WHITEHORSE, YT, Oct. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canadians deserve a sustainable health care system that provides timely access to high-quality health and social services that support individual wellbeing and healthy communities.

Today, the Honourable Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Brad Cathers, Yukon's Minister of Health and Social Services, announced that Canada and Yukon have reached an agreement in principle to renew the Working Together bilateral agreement. Once finalized, the agreement will provide approximately $52.1 million over seven years to improve access to health care across the territory. The Yukon is the second territory to announce progress on renewing its Working Together Agreement, after the Northwest Territories earlier this week.

Through this renewed federal investment, Yukon will advance ongoing priorities outlined in a new four-year action plan, including: 

• supporting health workers and improving service continuity in rural communities;
• increasing access to family health services;
• improving access to quality mental health and substance use services; and
• modernizing health systems.

The renewed agreement builds on measurable progress already achieved under the initial bilateral agreement (2023-24 – 2025-26). Since then, Yukon has: 

• strengthened mental health and substance use services, including prevention and early-intervention amongst youth, and support for Yukon First Nations-led healing camps;
• expanded access to opioid treatment services;
• increased harm reduction access, improving stability for high-needs individuals and reducing emergency room visits; and
• improved timely primary care access through a new team-based clinic in Whitehorse providing same-day care for unattached patients, with 99% patient satisfaction.

The territory will continue to publicly report each year on progress toward agreed-upon targets, ensuring Canadians can track how these investments are improving access to care. The action plan continues to be informed by engagement with First Nations to help improve access to culturally safe and appropriate care.

The Government of Canada is also investing $74.5 million over 3 years in health infrastructure funding through the Build Communities Strong Fund Canada-Yukon Agreement announced in May, which will support critical health infrastructure, including hospitals and long-term care.

Together, the Government of Canada and Yukon are delivering practical improvements that strengthen health care, support healthier communities and help build a stronger economy.

Quotes

"Investing in health care is investing in our economy and our future. The results we are seeing in the Yukon and across Canada show that investments in our public health care system and working together work. Once finalized, this agreement will help the Yukon continue improving access to care and building healthier, stronger communities across the territory."

The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health of Canada

"Yukoners deserve access to quality health care when and where they need it. This renewed agreement will support practical improvements that make a big difference in people's lives – from better access to primary care in Whitehorse to stronger mental health and substance use services and more connected care across the territory. By continuing to work together, we are helping build a health system that responds to the needs of Yukoners and their communities."

Brendan Hanley
Member of Parliament for Yukon

"This agreement gives us the ability to make targeted investments where they can have the greatest impact for Yukoners. We are especially pleased to use this new funding to provide increased resources for our rural health centres, which is a priority raised by Yukon First Nations, municipalities, and Yukoners."

The Honourable Brad Cathers
Minister of Health and Social Services for Yukon

Quick facts

• Through the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians Plan, the Government of Canada is providing close to $200 billion over 10 years to improve health services across the country. This includes $25 billion through tailored bilateral agreements with provinces and territories, $2.4 billion for mental health and substance use services remaining from Budget 2017, a guaranteed 5% Canada Health Transfer (CHT) increase for five years—amounting to $17.5 billion—and a one-time CHT $2 billion top-up to address to urgent needs of emergency rooms and pediatric hospitals, delivered in June 2023.
• The initial three-year Working Together bilateral agreements ended on March 31, 2026. The Government of Canada is working with remaining provinces and territories to renew the agreements and deliver the remaining seven years of funding.
• Yukon will update its action plan again in 2030-31 for the final three years of funding, allowing priorities and targets to reflect emerging health care needs.

Associated links

• Working Together to Improve Health Care in Canada
• Build Communities Strong Fund - Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)