Health Minister Brad Cathers speaks to reports at the Yukon Legislature. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
The Yukon government has introduced a bill to amend the Health Authority Act, a move that would pause plans for a new territory-wide health authority.
The changes, tabled Monday, would remove legal requirements to move ahead with the authority. Health Minister Brad Cathers says the pause would allow the government to focus on immediate priorities such as hiring staff, improving facilities and supporting hospitals.
The health authority, proposed by the previous Liberal government in 2024, was intended to create a more coordinated and culturally appropriate system, particularly for Yukon First Nations. The current Yukon Party government has cited high costs as a key reason for putting the plan on hold.
The decision has drawn criticism from Yukon First Nations leaders, who say it sidelines years of joint work and risks delaying long-promised health system reforms.
