New equipment makes Whitehorse hospital lab ‘most modern’ in the North, says health minister

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Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-31 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

The Yukon Hospital Corporation has introduced new chemical analyzers manufactured by Roche at the Whitehorse General Hospital as part of a $3-million modernization plan for its medical laboratory scheduled for completion in 2027. Yukon Health Minister Brad Cathers stated the upgrades make the lab the most modern north of 60, providing faster and more reliable blood test results to help address hospital overcrowding and improve patient discharge times. Marc Romney, director of medical lab services, noted that the new equipment improves operational efficiency and assists in recruiting scarce laboratory technicians to the Yukon.

Boil-water advisory lifted in Sachs Harbour, N.W.T., after nearly 9 months

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 20:36:49.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Healthcare]

The Northwest Territories' chief environmental health officer has lifted a nearly nine-month boil-water advisory for Sachs Harbour, originally issued on February 9 due to frozen intake pipes, truck-fill lines, and associated damage to the municipal water system. The Hamlet of Sachs Harbour and the territorial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs resolved the infrastructure failures, approving a new water treatment plant that is now functioning normally. The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that residents and businesses flush water systems by running faucets for one minute and clean water-using equipment such as coffee makers and ice-making machines. Officials confirmed that no illnesses were associated with the drinking water during the advisory period.

N.W.T. gov't working to reopen Yellowknife treatment centre for children with complex needs

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-26 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Social Services, Infrastructure]

The Government of the Northwest Territories' Department of Health and Social Services is working to reopen the Territorial Treatment Centre at 5218 52nd Street in Yellowknife, which has been closed since late 2021 due to staffing shortages under former operator Unlimited Potential Community Services. Three contractors have submitted bids ranging from $255,408 to $450,000 to complete necessary renovations to the nine-bedroom residential facility, including bathroom, kitchen, flooring, and furnishing upgrades. The initiative aims to provide local psychiatric and behavioural support for children aged eight to 12, thereby reducing the need to send vulnerable northern youth to out-of-territory facilities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

Q&A | Hours extended for outpatient lab services at Yellowknife hospital. Here’s why

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-19 23:10:43.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) extended outpatient lab hours at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife to 8 p.m. on weekdays, adding 4.5 hours daily and approximately 38 new appointments. The health authority also implemented a new online booking system to reduce a prior 10 per cent no-rate (representing roughly 1,400 unutilized appointments) and to help reduce patient wait times, which previously reached up to 21 calendar days.

Q&A | Why the Whitehorse hospital is under strain — and what's being done about it

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 22:00:51.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

The Whitehorse General Hospital is facing severe strain, operating at an average occupancy rate of 121 percent so far this year and reaching 124 percent capacity, forcing patients to be treated in non-conventional spaces such as the emergency department, meeting rooms, and a former dining room. Stefanie Ralph of the Yukon Hospital Corporation attributes the crisis to a 26 percent population growth in the Yukon since 2014, an aging demographic, and increasingly complex medical needs requiring a current baseline of 100 beds against a capacity of 79. Interim capacity measures included opening eight medical inpatient beds in June in a former secure medical unit and adding three mental health beds via the Fireweed mental health unit in the fall of 2025. Furthermore, a long-term proposal is currently underway to expand the Whitehorse General Hospital by roughly 56 new beds to address projected demands of 139 to 159 beds by 2045.

Yukon, federal gov’ts say new health care funding on the way

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-09 23:16:57.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

The Yukon and federal governments are working to finalize a bilateral healthcare funding agreement that will inject $52.1 million into the territory's system over seven years. Administered by Yukon Health Minister Brad Cathers, the funding will be directed toward improving access to mental health services, supporting community nursing to address rural health centre closures, and expanding services at the downtown Whitehorse walk-in clinic. However, officials confirmed the investment will not add doctors to the system, which currently faces severe pressures including chronic rural staffing shortages and operating in the red zone at Whitehorse General Hospital.

Whitehorse hospital full again, with some patients being treated in hallways

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-09 20:09:39.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

The Yukon Hospital Corporation reports that Whitehorse General Hospital reached 124 per cent capacity, with inpatient bed occupancy averaging 121 per cent so far this year due to a growing, aging population and higher patient acuity. Consequently, some patients are being treated in non-conventional spaces such as hallways, alcoves, and administrative rooms. To address these demands, the facility added eight new beds in July bringing the total to 79, while projections indicate an additional 49 to 63 acute care beds will be required by 2045.

Health Canada outlines plans for $144.8M in N.W.T. health care

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-05 17:04:20.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Indigenous, Social Services]

Health Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories announced a bilateral health funding agreement totaling over $144.8 million, making the Northwest Territories the first jurisdiction in Canada to renew its ten-year national health accord. The funding includes $51.2 million under the Working Together stream directed toward physician training and recruitment, primary health-care team integration, and mental health programming over the next seven years. Additionally, $70.2 million in federal funding matched by $23.4 million in territorial funding will support 16 infrastructure projects across 12 communities, including an MRI machine space at Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife, a CT scanner in Inuvik, six health cabins in remote communities, a community wellness centre in Délı̨nę, and specialized spaces for an Indigenous clinic.

N.W.T. receives millions to improve health care

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-05 17:04:20.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Infrastructure]

Health Canada and the government of the Northwest Territories have announced a total funding agreement of $144.8 million to improve the territory's health-care system. The package includes $51.2 million over seven years through the Working Together stream directed at physician training, recruitment, primary care teams, and mental health and substance use programs. Additionally, the Build Communities Strong Fund allocates $70.2 million in federal funding alongside $23.4 million in territorial contributions to support 16 health infrastructure projects across 12 communities.

Feds grant New Brunswick $461 million for infrastructure projects

Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-09-25 20:10:15.0
Tags: [National, New Brunswick, Infrastructure, Housing, Healthcare, Education]

The federal government, through the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, has announced a $461 million funding transfer to the Government of New Brunswick via the $51-billion Build Communities Strong Fund from the 2025 federal budget. The agreement allocates $305 million toward housing and post-secondary education projects, with New Brunswick committing not to increase fees or taxes that hinder housing supply. Additionally, $155 million is designated for health infrastructure, including $25.7 million for endoscopy modernization and expansion and $1 million for future planning at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital in Moncton.

Drinking water orders lifted at more N.W.T. schools after lead testing

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-22 23:18:00.0
Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Education, Healthcare]

The Northwest Territories' chief public health officer has lifted drinking water health orders at five schools and one residential facility following remediation work on water fixtures with elevated lead levels. The affected facilities include Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ Elementary School, Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ Regional High School, and Fort Simpson Student Residences in Fort Simpson, Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells, Echo Dene School in Fort Liard, and Mezi School in Whatı̀. Testing confirmed that lead levels in these remediated water fountains and sinks now fall within acceptable Health Canada guidelines. The territorial government initiated territory-wide testing of all schools last fall, which previously identified elevated lead levels in taps or fountains across more than 30 facilities, with remediation work continuing as necessary supplies become available.

Nunavut’s first trauma and addictions centre will have Inuit-focused healing programming, says director

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-09-09 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Indigenous, Social Services, Infrastructure]

Annie Aningmiuq has been appointed as the first executive director of Aqqusariaq, Nunavut's first-ever trauma and addictions centre. The 24-bed facility, stemming from a 2019 agreement signed by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated alongside federal and territorial governments, will feature Inuit-focused healing programming including on-the-land activities, traditional hunting tool workshops, and a cultural sewing room. While construction has faced delays and a final opening date is not yet set, the facility aims to provide localized care so Nunavummiut can access treatment without leaving the territory.