Inclusive Yukon Families Act receives assent in the Yukon Legislative Assembly

Press Release

May 1, 2025

The Inclusive Yukon Families Act, a landmark piece of legislation that updates the Children’s Law Act, Vital Statistics Act and Change of Name Act to better reflect and support the diversity of families across the territory, received assent today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

With the passage of this legislation, Yukoners will benefit from modern laws that recognize diverse family structures and more inclusive parentage recognition. The Inclusive Yukon Families Act provides new legal pathways for parentage recognition, especially for families formed through assisted reproduction, surrogacy and reproductive material donation. The amendments ensure that individuals who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming or using assisted reproductive methods can establish legal parentage in ways that reflect their lived realities.

The legislation also removes long-standing barriers to name reclamation, particularly for Indigenous Yukoners reclaiming their traditional names. As part of the Government of Yukon’s commitment to reconciliation, the Act eliminates fees associated with reclaiming Indigenous names and supports the future inclusion of traditional characters, diacritics and single-name formats, in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #17.

In addition, the Act amends numerous provisions to replace gendered terms such as mother, father and paternity with gender-neutral terms like parent, person and parentage and introduces inclusive terms such as birth parent. These changes make Yukon laws more gender neutral and reflective of the diversity of Yukon families.

This is a significant milestone in our work toward reconciliation, equity and respect for human rights. Every family in the Yukon deserves recognition under the law. The Inclusive Yukon Families Act is an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to building a more just and inclusive society – one where all Yukoners can see their identities, their families and their traditions reflected in our laws.

Minister of Health and Social Services, and Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee

Quick facts

• The Act expands presumption of parentage to Yukoners growing their families through assisted reproduction and beyond a heteronormative and biology-focused lens.
• The Inclusive Yukon Families Act allows parentage to be established through written agreements in the case of surrogacy or when presumption of parentage does not apply.
• The Change of Name Act and Vital Statistics Act have been amended to waive fees for Indigenous Yukoners reclaiming traditional names.
• The new legislation lays the groundwork for implementing single-name registrations and traditional characters or diacritics, subject to national coordination.
• The amended Children’s Law Act and Vital Statistics Act are designed to make Yukon laws more equitable and reflective of all families by introducing inclusive, gender-neutral language.
• Implementation will occur in phases: name change fee waivers are expected to take effect by June 2025; parentage-related changes are anticipated within 12 to 18 months.

Media contact

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

Ayodeji Awobamise
Communications, Health and Social Services
867-334-8342
ayodeji.awobamise@yukon.ca

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