LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Laws

Sep 1: Yukon modernized its contracts procurement policy by increasing direct award thresholds and introducing regular two-year inflation adjustments to ensure purchasing limits reflect today’s costs. The new thresholds for direct award tenders are: $18,000 for goods (up from $10,000), $75,000 for services (up from $50,000), and $100,000 for construction (up from $50,000).

New Laws

Aug 12: The Government of Yukon approved 26 projects across the territory awarding a total of $810,339 through the Community Development Fund. Recipient projects include facility upgrades, community programming, cultural initiatives, feasibility studies, sporting events, and volunteer development. The Community Development Fund provides up to 90% of total project costs with funding divided into three tiers with separate application deadlines. Tier 1 applications of $20,000 or less are due on January 15, May 15, July 15, and October 15. Tier 2 applications between $20,001 and $75,000 are due on April 15 and September 15. Tier 3 applications over $75,000 are due on January 15.

New Laws

Sep 16: That’s the deadline for Yukon businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and municipal governments to apply for Tier 2 Economic Development Fund support of between $30,001 and $100,000 per project. For the first time, applications will be accepted online through the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture’s online funding portal.

New Laws

Aug 18: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) announced that it will invest $2.4 million to help establish a new Network Environments for Indigenous Health Research (NEIHR) centre in Yukon. This centre will strengthen Yukon First Nations-led research capacity in the territory and expand the national network of Indigenous health research centres to now include all provinces and territories.

Privacy

Aug 27: Yukon released a What We Heard report summarizing the results of recent online surveying on nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images. Key findings: Yukoners are aware that sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence; 43% of the 242 respondents reported experiencing some form of unwanted sexualized communication; and more education and awareness are needed about cyber victimization, especially for young people.

Action Point: Cyber privacy and nonconsensual publication of intimate images on PornHub and other sites can become a workplace harassment issue when it involves workers. That’s why it’s important to create and implement an effective Cyberbullying Prevention Policy.

CASES

There are no cases to report on this month.