Government of Yukon shares What We Heard report on proposed new Contaminants Regulation

Press Release

March 20, 2025

The Government of Yukon is sharing a What We Heard report summarizing feedback on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation that would repeal and replace the existing Contaminated Sites Regulation and the Spills Regulation.

The proposed new regulation aims to enhance environmental protection by updating standards, clarifying expectations and ensuring effective contaminated site remediation. The government sought feedback on key provisions of the proposed new regulation, including updated contaminant standards and spill reporting thresholds, transferring responsibility for contaminated sites, streamlining the permitting process and further defining how contaminated sites are designated.

The government engaged Yukon First Nations governments and industry stakeholders from August 6 to September 30, 2024. This engagement was a follow-up from broad public engagement in 2018 and provided an opportunity for these governments and organizations to share final comments.

Participants were generally supportive of the proposed changes to the regulations. Considerations raised during the engagement included:

• ensuring transfer of responsibility for contaminated sites is open and transparent;
• allowing flexibility in standardized permits for site-specific remediation;
• providing opportunities for affected First Nations to be involved in managing contaminated sites;
• keeping site investigations and assessments flexible and straightforward to avoid delaying remediation; and
• ensuring remediation facilities are built to protect human health, the environment and Indigenous rights.

This valuable feedback will help shape the final Contaminants Regulation, helping to ensure it is effective, practical and responsive to the needs of Yukoners. By strengthening the management of contaminated sites and spills, the Government of Yukon is taking an important step toward protecting the territory’s water and land while unlocking economic opportunities through the redevelopment of remediated sites, including much-needed housing.

Thank you to the representatives from Yukon First Nations governments, industry, business and environmental consulting firms who weighed in on our proposed new Contaminants Regulation. Once completed, this new regulation will streamline and simplify permitting processes and make it easier to remediate, develop and sell contaminated properties. This is an important step our government is taking to build a modern framework for regulating contaminated sites and spills that prioritizes the wellbeing of Yukoners and the environment.

Minister of Environment Nils Clarke

Quick facts

• The Government of Yukon invited 172 representatives from over 80 organizations to provide feedback on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation.
• Online information sessions were attended by 35 participants and 14 written submissions were received as part of the engagement.
• The Government of Yukon previously engaged with the wider public, Indigenous governments and groups and industry on the proposed new Contaminants Regulation in 2018. The government re-engaged Indigenous governments and groups and key industry stakeholders in 2024 to update their feedback due to the time that has passed since 2018.

Media contact

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

Kyle Nightingale
Communications, Environment
867-334-5922
kyle.nightingale@yukon.ca

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