The Yukon has committed more than $165 million in its 2022-23 budget to transforming the territory’s health system and ramping up mental health and substance-use supports for a population that has grown the most in Canada since 2016.

Funding is slated for a number of initiatives, including $2.6 million for the Bilingual Health and Wellness Centre in Whitehorse. The facility will use a collaborative, team-based model of care and be the first health centre in the Yukon based on recommendations stemming from the health-care reforming Putting People First report.

Another $10 million is slated for a short stay psychiatric unit at the Whitehorse General Hospital. The facility is currently under construction to offer a safe place for patients with a mental health diagnosis to receive medical care.

The Health and Wellness Centre in Old Crow will receive $13 million for bringing mental health, emergency services and home care to the remote community. A further $315,000 will support renovations to the Health and Wellness Centre in Carcross.

This year’s budget also dedicates $11.6 million to manage the ongoing risk of COVID-19, including a a $10 million COVID-19 contingency fund as the territory moves from pandemic to endemic.

Alongside the pandemic, the territory continues to face a substance use crisis. Earlier this year, it was declared an emergency affecting communities due to more overdose related deaths. As such the new budget is committing $5.5 million to enhancing the supervised consumption site to increase access and expanding the safer supply program to rural communities.

Yukon’s total budget contains $1.97 billion in spending, with $1.42 billion earmarked for operating and maintenance expenses and $546.5 million for capital spending.