Local News

A man walks passed the polling place sign at city hall in Whitehorse during the city’s last civic election in October 2018. If the city’s mayor is elected to the territorial legislature next month, a seat on council would remain vacant until after the next city election in October 2021. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)

No by-election slated for city if the mayor is elected to legislature

Deputy mayors would continue to serve in role until municipal election

A man walks passed the polling place sign at city hall in Whitehorse during the city’s last civic election in October 2018. If the city’s mayor is elected to the territorial legislature next month, a seat on council would remain vacant until after the next city election in October 2021. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)
Joel Krahn/Yukon News file Up to 20 inmates and additional staff have been transferred to the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.

Inmates transferred to Whitehorse following Baffin Correctional Centre fire

Inmates on remand or serving a territorial sentence were transferred to Whitehorse on March 27

Joel Krahn/Yukon News file Up to 20 inmates and additional staff have been transferred to the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.
Paragliders Russell Bamford, Sam Bamford and Trevor Mead-Robins approach the chairlift at Mount Sima in Whitehorse on February 13, 2021. (Haley Ritchie/Yukon News)

Wind chill: Yukon paragliders take to the winter skies

Short and sunny days make for easy flying at Mount Sima

Paragliders Russell Bamford, Sam Bamford and Trevor Mead-Robins approach the chairlift at Mount Sima in Whitehorse on February 13, 2021. (Haley Ritchie/Yukon News)
From right to left: Yukon Party candidate Angela Drainville, Liberal incumbent Richard Mostyn and NDP candidate Ron Davis. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Whitehorse West

The Whitehorse West riding encompasses the Whitehorse neighbourhoods of Ingram, Arkell, Logan…

From right to left: Yukon Party candidate Angela Drainville, Liberal incumbent Richard Mostyn and NDP candidate Ron Davis. (Submitted)
The Yukon Teachers’ Association filed a legal petition against the Yukon government on March 24. (Yukon News file)

YTA files lawsuit over rehiring policy for laid-off teachers

Petition alleges that the Yukon government has broken its collective agreement

The Yukon Teachers’ Association filed a legal petition against the Yukon government on March 24. (Yukon News file)
From left: Liberal candidate Dan Curtis, Yukon Party candidate Eileen Melnychuk and NDP candidate Emily Tredger. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Whitehorse Centre

The retirement of incumbent NDP MLA Liz Hanson clears the field for three new candidates

From left: Liberal candidate Dan Curtis, Yukon Party candidate Eileen Melnychuk and NDP candidate Emily Tredger. (Submitted)
Whitehorse City Hall (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)

City hall, briefly

A look at decisions made by Whitehorse city council this week

Whitehorse City Hall (Joel Krahn/Yukon News file)
From left: NDP incumbent Kate White, Yukon Party candidate Morgan Yuill and Liberal candidate Raj Murugaiyan. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Takhini-Kopper King

NDP leader Kate White’s home riding has been held for eight years

From left: NDP incumbent Kate White, Yukon Party candidate Morgan Yuill and Liberal candidate Raj Murugaiyan. (Submitted)
Diane McLeod-McKay, the Yukon’s public interest disclosure commissioner, has highlighted issues with the Yukon’s whistleblower protection legislation. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)

Commissioner highlights issues with whistleblower protection legislation

March 24 was Canada’s first Whistleblower Awareness Day

Diane McLeod-McKay, the Yukon’s public interest disclosure commissioner, has highlighted issues with the Yukon’s whistleblower protection legislation. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)
Amy Labonte, NDP candidate for Watson Lake, has stepped out of the election race. (Submitted)

Watson Lake NDP candidate steps down after controversial tweets

Amy Labonte tweeted her hope for the assassination of Donald Trump in 2019.

Amy Labonte, NDP candidate for Watson Lake, has stepped out of the election race. (Submitted)
From left to right: Yukon Party leader Currie Dixon, Liberal incumbent Ted Adel and NDP candidate Saba Javed. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Copperbelt North

A university student and the Yukon Party leader are challenging the Liberal incumbent

From left to right: Yukon Party leader Currie Dixon, Liberal incumbent Ted Adel and NDP candidate Saba Javed. (Submitted)
Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s chief medical officer, announced the two new cases on March 25. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)

Two new cases, one confirmed variant, of COVID-19 discovered in Yukon

Both individuals are self-isolating and doing well

Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon’s chief medical officer, announced the two new cases on March 25. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)
From left to right: NDP candidate Kaori Torigai, Yukon Party incumbent Scott Kent, Liberal candidate Sheila Robertson. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Copperbelt South

A Yukon Party incumbent is returning to the race with two opposing candidates

From left to right: NDP candidate Kaori Torigai, Yukon Party incumbent Scott Kent, Liberal candidate Sheila Robertson. (Submitted)
Ron Chambers accepts his lifetime achievement award in regalia at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on March 22. (Gabrielle Plonka/Yukon News)

AFN awards presented for climate, language and culture leadership

Thirteen Yukoners received awards on March 22

Ron Chambers accepts his lifetime achievement award in regalia at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre on March 22. (Gabrielle Plonka/Yukon News)
Yukon Green Party logo. The Greens aren’t running candidates in 2021 territorial election.

Greens won’t run candidates in 2021 election

Fifty-seven candidates are running in this election

Yukon Green Party logo. The Greens aren’t running candidates in 2021 territorial election.
The now empty lot at 410 Cook Street in Whitehorse on January 19, 2021. Due to a tie vote, Whitehorse city council defeated a zoning change to require fewer parking spots in a planned micro-housing development. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)

Tie vote by council defeats zoning amendment

Parking requirements for affordable housing project remain in place

The now empty lot at 410 Cook Street in Whitehorse on January 19, 2021. Due to a tie vote, Whitehorse city council defeated a zoning change to require fewer parking spots in a planned micro-housing development. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)
Artist’s rendering of a Dairy Queen drive-thru. Whitehorse city council heard arguments for and against the rezoning of 107 Range Road for a drive-thru on the property. Developers are proposing a Dairy Queen restaurant for the site. (Submitted)

Council hears arguments for and against drive-thrus

Public hearing held on rezoning for 107 Range Road

Artist’s rendering of a Dairy Queen drive-thru. Whitehorse city council heard arguments for and against the rezoning of 107 Range Road for a drive-thru on the property. Developers are proposing a Dairy Queen restaurant for the site. (Submitted)
The Dawson planning region encompasses 40,000 square kilometres. About 12 per cent has been withdrawn from mineral staking, the Yukon government announced March 11. (Submitted/Dawson Regional Planning Commission)

Dawson region staking withdrawal called “far too little, and too late”

The Yukon government has withdrawn a portion of land from mineral staking during land-use planning.

The Dawson planning region encompasses 40,000 square kilometres. About 12 per cent has been withdrawn from mineral staking, the Yukon government announced March 11. (Submitted/Dawson Regional Planning Commission)
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley speaks to media at at press conference on Jan. 27 about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The Yukon has now surpassed a vaccination rate of 65 per cent, but Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley said young people are lagging behind. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)

Hanley: Over 65 per cent of Yukoners vaccinated

Vaccination rates higher among seniors, lower among youth

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley speaks to media at at press conference on Jan. 27 about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. The Yukon has now surpassed a vaccination rate of 65 per cent, but Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Brendan Hanley said young people are lagging behind. (Crystal Schick/Yukon News file)
From left: Liberal Party candidate Luke Campbell, Yukon Party incumbent Wade Istchenko and Yukon NDP candidate Dave Weir. (Submitted)

Getting to know the candidates in Kluane

Pandemic dominates election discussions in southwest Yukon

From left: Liberal Party candidate Luke Campbell, Yukon Party incumbent Wade Istchenko and Yukon NDP candidate Dave Weir. (Submitted)