Grand Chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, Math’ieya Alatini addresses the attendees while The Honourable Currie Dixon, Premier of Yukon listens, at the first sitting of the Yukon Forum in 2026 at the Kwanlin Dün First Nation Nàkwät'à Kų̀ Potlatch House. Photo Courtesy of Government of Yukon.
Whitehorse, YT – The Yukon Government is pausing plans to create a territorial health authority and may consider repealing the legislation this fall.
Premier Currie Dixon says he acknowledges that the move is disappointing to First Nations but the territory can’t divert funds from front-line healthcare. The decision was made after the Yukon Party formed government in November, replacing the Liberals, who started planning for the arm’s-length health authority.
The decision drew concern from Yukon First Nations during the Yukon Forum on Friday, who say years of work on the health authority provides a framework for transforming the healthcare system and improving outcomes for patients, families and communities.
“I think disappointment was an understatement when the premier shared the views of repealing the legislation around the Health Authority. The chiefs made it very clear that they are in support of the health authority,” said Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini. “They really feel that the health transformation work requires the Health Authority to be there.”
Last week, the Council of Yukon First Nations urged the territorial government to continue working on the health authority.
The government says it will continue advancing health system improvements without changing the governance model.
