The Government of Canada announces supplemental top-up Safe Restart funding to Yukon

News release

Ottawa, October 9, 2020 – The Government of Canada continues to work with provinces and territories to ensure fundamental supports are in place to continue to protect the health and safety of all Canadians, and to ensure that jurisdictions have what they need to gradually and safely restart their economies.   

With the Safe Restart Agreement, federal, provincial and territorial governments recognize that smaller jurisdictions face distinct challenges and circumstances. 

Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, announced over $12.4 million in top-up funding for Yukon. This investment—supplemental funding under the Safe Restart Agreement—will help strengthen those supports available to the people of Yukon, particularly the most vulnerable, as part of the ongoing national response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Government of Canada is also investing up to $7 million for air carriers in the territory. Support for enhanced air service will ensure that food, equipment and medicine reach people living in remote communities in a reliable and timely manner. 

Quotes

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government has been working hand in hand with territories and provinces. We know Yukon faces unique challenges due to COVID-19, and we will continue to work closely with the territorial government to offer the funding and the support to meet those needs. We will continue to ensure no one is left behind as, together, we build a stronger and more resilient Canada.”
 - The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs 

“Air carriers are vital for the well-being and livelihood of people who live in remote communities. Funding air carriers so the Yukon government can support essential travel and deliver essential goods is another example of how our government is committed to keeping all Canadians safe and healthy during this pandemic.”
- The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

“The government has been working with the territories to address the unique and critical needs of Northerners. These supports will ensure that residents of Yukon have what they need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. From access to health services, to the continuation of the supply chain through air supports, we are taking actions to help Northerners when they need it most.”
- The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs

“This funding will support Yukoners and connect communities as we all work to keep the territory safe. We appreciate the ongoing financial contributions from the federal government in recognition of our unique needs and look forward to future conversations about continued support.”
- The Honourable Sandy Silver, Premier of Yukon

“I really appreciate the thousands of Yukoners that the federal Government has been able to help individually or through the many business supports. But critical work still needs to be done with this additional new funding, especially to continue to help the most vulnerable, and the essential lifeline that Air North so magnificently keeps available to all of us.”
- Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon

Quick facts

  • On July 16, the government of Canada announced the Safe Restart Agreement—an investment of more than $19 billion to help provinces and territories safely restart their economies.

  • As part of its ongoing collaboration with, and support to territorial governments, the Government of Canada recently increased the territorial borrowing limits for all three Territories.

  • In April, the Government of Canada announced approximately $130 million in support to address immediate health, economic, and transportation needs in the North.

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Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Corinne Havard
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
343-551-9740

Media Relations
Privy Council Office
Telephone: 613-957-5420

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