Change Starts Now!
Add your name if you will stand with Currie Dixon and the Yukon Party!
WHITEHORSE – For years, the Yukon’s economy was defined by two troubling trends: the growth in the size and reach of the territorial government and the stagnation of the private sector. During this time, the Yukon government grew steadily in size, added new regulations and red tape and adopted several policies preventing growth.
“Last year, Yukoners chose change and elected a historic Yukon Party majority government,” said Premier Currie Dixon. “Since taking office, we have cut red tape, modernized procurement, reduced permitting delays, and invested in workforce development and labour mobility. These actions are creating the conditions for private-sector growth and setting Yukon up for long-term economic success.”
The Yukon Party government is also zeroing in on red tape following the launch of its Red Tape Reduction Portal, a simple online feedback form for Yukoners, businesses and government employees to share how government rules, processes or regulations negatively impact them, slow them down or create unnecessary barriers.”
“Reducing red tape is about changing how government works,” said Minister of Economy, Tourism and Culture Jen Gehmair. “We are building a culture that listens, acts and continuously improves to better serve Yukoners and support business growth. The hundreds of suggestions we’ve received demonstrate a strong appetite for change, and we look forward to turning many of those ideas into action.”
Since being elected, we have taken several key steps to take care of business, allow the private sector to grow and lead, and develop our resource economy, including:
• Providing greater certainty for government and contractors by introducing a new Fall Capital Budgeting process to get a head start on our short construction season;
• Improving timelines for commercial timber harvest permits by 35% and launching a new online Forrest Sector Overview to help harvesters and business plan their operations;
• Working to modernize new minerals legislation by launching a new process in partnership with Yukon First Nations;
• Advancing proposed mining projects by reducing the permitting backlog, issuing over 100 mining decision documents and processing more than 340 Class 1 notifications;
• Modernizing procurement by increasing the direct award thresholds for goods, services and construction;
• Limiting the growth of government to just two new Yukon government employees from March 2025 to March 2026, compared with 179 and 182, or 361 total, over the previous two years;
• Increasing transparency and improving services in the permitting process by launching an online public tracker for placer mining and mineral exploration applications;
• Identifying opportunities to cut red tape by launching the Red Tape Reduction Portal and receiving over 230 submissions;
• Helping over 500 apprentices by investing $2.5 million in apprenticeship supports;
• Investing $7 million to boost labour market programs to support workforce shortages in health care, skilled trades, construction, resource development and tourism.
Together, these initiatives help celebrate Yukon’s entrepreneurial spirit and the territory’s rich natural resources, and advance partnerships to support private sector growth in key industries.
“We are committed to putting the private sector at the forefront of Yukon’s economy and revitalizing responsible resource development,” said MLA for Porter Creek South Adam Gerle. “We have made important progress, but we know there is more work ahead. Together with industry and First Nations, we will drive investment, advance responsible development and unlock Yukon’s full economic potential.”
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Media Contact
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874
[email protected]
