Yukon NDP announces plan to invest in Whitehorse General Hospital and lower wait times
October 20, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2025
Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Whitehorse, Yukon – The Yukon NDP is committing to get Yukoners care faster, with a major investment in the Whitehorse General Hospital. With their plan, the Yukon NDP will add 8 new medicine beds and immediately begin construction to expand the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), ensuring faster access to emergency care for Yukoners.
The plan will also build 4 new operating rooms to tackle the growing surgical backlog and ensure that Yukoners can get the care they need without months-long delays or travel out of the territory.
“Too many Yukoners are waiting too long for the care they need,” said Kate White, Leader of the Yukon NDP. “Frontline workers at the hospital are doing incredible work under impossible pressure – they need more space and more support. Expanding the ICU and adding new operating rooms will mean fewer cancelled surgeries, shorter ER waits, and better care for everyone.”
Under the Conservative Yukon Party, nurse staffing was at a crisis level. Surgeons at the hospital publicly begged for more beds, surgeries were cancelled and Yukoners were turned away at the doors of the Whitehorse General Hospital due to a lack of space. Brad Cathers, the then-Minister of Health and Social Services, said he would only listen to the CEO and administration of the hospital, not frontline workers.
Under the Liberals, surgery and ER wait times have only continued to grow. Earlier this year, a surgeon at Whitehorse General Hospital quit, citing a lack of support and adequate surgical funding and infrastructure.
Since the election began on October 3, the Yukon NDP has announced a slew of commitments to make healthcare better, including plans to:
- Connect every Yukoner with a primary care provider
- Train more local nurses by creating a 4-year nursing program at Yukon University and adding seats to the LPN-RN bridging program
- Keep community health centres open by hiring and supporting more nurses
“Healthcare should be there when you need it, but after years of the Liberals’ disrespect and the Conservative Yukon Party’s cuts, Yukoners are paying the price,” said White. “Whether you’re a frontline worker or someone waiting for care – you can count on the Yukon NDP.”
-30-