The Yukon government is extending the current state of emergency order for up to another 90 days.

The order, which invokes the Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA), has been in place for more than a year. This move would mark the fifth extension.

Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn made the announcement in a statement in the legislative assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, our government has focused on keeping Yukoners safe,” he told the house.

“On March 27, 2020, a state of emergency was declared under the Civil Emergency Measures Act in response to the pandemic.

“Since then, a state of emergency has been extended four times to ensure the continuity of the tools, flexibility, and capacity needed to keep Yukoners safe,” Mostyn added.

“The latest extension took place on March 3, 2021, and is slated to expire at the end of the day on May 31, 2021.”

When the state of emergency ends, the ministerial orders enabling pandemic response management under the CEMA will expire, Mostyn said.

“In some cases, this may result in consequences that will have a negative effect on Yukoners during the pandemic period. The state of emergency will soon be extended for a fifth time. The extension may be in place for up to 90 days,” the minister said.

“Of course, the state of emergency can be cancelled at any time, or it may, if it continues to be necessary, be extended.

“As we have recently demonstrated when we removed the requirement to self-isolate for fully vaccinated individuals, our government regularly evaluates the ministerial orders issued under the Civil Emergency Measures Act and repeals any that are no longer necessary to keep Yukoners safe from COVID-19.”

By extending the state of emergency for a fifth time, Mostyn said, “our government remains nimble and able to adapt to potential rapid changes in the COVID-19 situation, including monitoring the third wave in Canada and reviewing emerging data on variant spread to inform our decisions.”

Later, Mostyn hedged his answer when asked by a reporter whether he had any idea of whether this could be the last time the state will be extended or whether it will be in effect the full 90 days.

Mostyn said in response the only certainly with COVID-19 is that it’s unpredictable.

He had little else to say in terms of explaining or rationalizing the move.

Predictably, that lack of detail and discussion didn’t go over well with the Yukon Party in its official Opposition role.

Party leader Currie Dixon argued about the need to proceed with the extension without the government proving it’s necessary.

He called that undemocratic and not fair to Yukoners.

The party renewed its calls for an overhaul of the related CEMA legislation.

“It has been over a year that the Yukon Liberal government has been hiding from accountability and refusing to allow democratic oversight of their actions in regards to the pandemic,” the party said in a statement.

“All-party committees have not met and allowed to review the unprecedented number of regulations and ministerial orders brought in.

“During a snap election campaign, the Yukon Party was the only party to promise clear benchmarks and timelines for reopening, and debate on the state of emergency in the legislative assembly,” the party added.

“The Liberals responded by holding a news conference during the waning days of the campaign to fear monger and say that providing a plan was dangerous.

“Now, we are seeing the Liberals change their tune slightly by relaxing restrictions – however, they are still refusing to allow for democratic oversight of extensions of the State of Emergency,” the Yukon Party said.

CEMA’s current wording, the party added, “means that the Liberals will once again be able to extend the state of emergency and use sweeping emergency powers in perpetuity while avoiding democratic oversight.”

The Yukon Party tabled proposed legislation that would see CEMA amended to require democratic oversight of the government during an extended emergency.

The amendments would:

• provide the legislative assembly with oversight and control over the extension of a state of emergency; and

• require that any regulations and ministerial orders be subject to a mandatory review by the legislative assembly or an assembly committee within 45 days of being issued.

“Enough is enough,” said Yukon Party MLA Brad Cathers. “The Liberals have indicated they will be extending the state of emergency for a fifth time, and once again the Opposition has not been provided briefings with officials on why these decisions are being made, nor will the legislature have the ability to provide oversight.

“The basics of democracy include holding the government to account, and the Liberals continue to avoid this most basic of democratic process.”

NDP Leader Kate White said, “The Yukon NDP recognizes the importance of the pandemic response under the Civil Emergencies Measures Act and fully expects the state of emergency to be maintained so we can keep measures like self-isolation for unvaccinated folks in place.

“We also believe in the importance of clarity and the timely sharing of information,” White added.

“If there should be any lesson learned by any level of government since March 2020, it is the importance of clear and concise communication.

“People want to know and understand the rules and regulations that affect them, and they want to understand what they need to do to meet those rules.”

Unfortunately, the NDP leader added, “communication around rules and regulations has not always been clear. A recent example is the May 21 press release that contained next to no information about next steps for restaurants and bars.

“These businesses were left wondering about what they would be able to do today as restrictions changed, because the same press release does say that, for indoor and outdoor gatherings, funerals, weddings, faith-based services, gyms, and recreation centres, physical distancing would still be required.

“But — great news — after looking online all weekend, new guidelines were posted on the yukon.ca website on May 24.”