Government of Yukon and Yukon Medical Association sign new agreement to strengthen access to care

Press Release

September 2 2025

The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Medical Association (YMA) have signed a new three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will improve access to primary and community health care across the territory.

Covering the period from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028, the agreement reflects the strong partnership between the government and the physician community. It introduces strategic investments in family medicine, recruitment and retention and culturally responsive care to help meet Yukoners’ evolving health needs.

Key elements of the agreement include:

new Longitudinal Family Medicine Program to support family physicians in delivering continuous care, including compensation for time spent coordinating care and following up outside of appointments;
incentives for family physicians to improve access to primary care;
expanded recruitment and retention supports, including expanded recruitment incentives, relocation incentives, enhanced parental leave and new wellness programs to help attract and retain physicians in both community and hospital settings; and
cultural awareness and inclusion initiatives, including new funding for the development of a Yukon First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cultural Awareness Program.

This agreement also supports the ongoing transformation of Yukon’s health system, aligning with the creation of Shäw Kwä’ą / Health and Wellness Yukon and the recommendations of the Putting People First report. By modernizing physician compensation and strengthening the sustainability of medical practice in the territory, the agreement lays the foundation for a more collaborative, equitable and accessible health care system.

Implementation planning is now underway. In the coming months, the Government of Yukon and the Yukon Medical Association will roll out new programs under the agreement and prepare for the Act Respecting the Yukon Medical Association, which takes effect on January 1, 2026, establishing YMA as the sole bargaining agent for all medical practitioners. Further details will be shared directly with physicians as planning progresses.

This agreement reflects the strong partnership between physicians and the Government of Yukon. By increasing supports for family doctors, improving recruitment and retention and investing in culturally responsive care, we are taking practical steps to strengthen our health care system. Yukoners will see the benefits through better access to all care, especially in primary, community and acute care settings.

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee

This new agreement is a positive development for the health of Yukoners. It introduces programs to strengthen family medicine, improve continuity of care and provide recruitment incentives to attract more physicians to the territory. Investments in physician wellness and cultural safety aim to create a healthier environment for doctors and the patients they serve. In the current climate of a national physician shortage, these measures are important tools to promote better access to care throughout the Yukon.

President of the Yukon Medical Association Dr. Derek Bryant

Quick facts

The Yukon Medical Association represents physicians across the territory and advocates for professional standards, sustainability and the delivery of high-quality health care.
The MOA governs the fee-for-service model, relationship management between YMA and the Yukon government and benefit programs for YMA members.
The agreement includes annual increases of 3 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent to fee-for-service billings over the three-year term, helping to modernize physician compensation and keep pace with changing health care needs.
A $125,000 recruitment bonus over five years is available for each new physician who chooses to practise in the Yukon, with additional incentives for those relocating to Dawson or Watson Lake, as well as for new physicians who sign up to provide acute care services at Whitehorse General Hospital.
The agreement expands funding for the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Fund, supporting physician-led initiatives and education in areas such as anti-racism, gender equality and culturally responsive care.
In preparation for the Act Respecting the Yukon Medical Association taking effect on January 1, 2026, the Government of Yukon and YMA are working together to implement new mechanisms for sole representation, arbitration and dispute resolution.
By aligning with the Putting People First report and the shift to Shäw Kwäʼą / Health and Wellness Yukon, the agreement supports broader health system transformation and aims to reduce administrative burdens for physicians.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.Seeley@yukon.ca

Thibaut Rondel
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-332-7058
thibaut.rondel@yukon.ca

Dr. Derek Bryant
Yukon Medical Association
president@yukondoctors.ca

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