Yukoners can count on Kate to train more local nurses
October 7, 2025
Healthcare crisis has a homegrown solution: White
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2025
Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Whitehorse, Yukon – Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with two Yukon nurses, Yukon NDP Leader Kate White announced another plank in her party’s plan to make healthcare better.
“After years of disrespect by Liberal and Conservative Yukon Party governments, nurses are burning out,” said White. “Our team has listened to nurses and we’re committing to a home-grown solution, together. With your vote, we can train, hire and keep more Yukon nurses to care for people in every community.”
White committed to adding 10 seats to the Government of the Yukon and University of New Brunswick’s bridging program, making it easier for Licensed Practical Nurses to become Registered Nurses. White further announced that she and her team would partner with Yukon University to create a four-year Registered Nurse degree program to train more Yukon nurses here at home. Nurses who agree to work in Yukon healthcare for 5 years after graduating would also have their costs covered in both programs.
The current LPN-RN bridging subsidy covers just one third of tuition, leaving students without the support they need to make it through.
“The Liberal government failed to provide the support students needed to succeed. Many of us were trying to juggle full-time work and full-time studies,” said Tiara Topps, a nurse and Yukon NDP candidate who, like several of her peers, made the difficult decision to drop out of the LPN-RN bridging program. “We need to support our nursing students so they can focus on learning – not worrying about making rent or covering tuition.”
Under the Liberal government, nurses have sounded the alarm over short-staffing and limited support. According to the Health and Social Services Facebook page, Community Health Centres in the Yukon were either closed or operating under reduced services for an average of 91 days per year over the last four years, due to a shortage of nursing staff.
The Conservative Yukon Party repeatedly ignored calls for help from nurses. The then-Minister of Health and Social Services, Brad Cathers, publicly stated he would only listen to the hospital CEO and administration, not frontline workers. Cathers is running for re-election with Currie Dixon.
“The number one thing I hear in every healthcare setting is that we need more nurses,” said Hilary Smith, a Yukon NDP candidate and a registered nurse. “When we train and support nurses right here at home, we’re making healthcare better for all of us.”
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NDP Campaign Office – Yukon
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