• Yukon wildland firefighters welcome plan to expand presumptive cancer coverage

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-10-09 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Labour, Public Safety, Governance, Environment]

  The Yukon government tabled a bill to amend the territorial Workers' Safety and Compensation Act to extend presumptive cancer coverage to wildland firefighters. Previously, only full-time and part-time structural firefighters received this coverage under the legislation. The proposed amendment covers all wildland firefighters equally, including government employees and independent contractors, with industry representatives aiming for formal legislative passage prior to the winter legislative break.

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• Residents worry Tsiigehtchic is not prepared for impacts of Mackenzie Valley Highway

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-10 21:30:20.0
  Tags: [National, Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment, Public Safety, Indigenous]

  Residents of Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories, voiced concerns during Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board consultations regarding the $405-million federal investment to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The project scope includes an environmental assessment expansion covering the corridor connecting Norman Wells to the Dempster Highway in Inuvik. Residents worry the route bypasses their community of approximately 180 people while potentially increasing environmental degradation to land and water, and raising access to illicit substances without corresponding local emergency services, such as a dedicated RCMP officer or local nurses.

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