Yukon devolution

Amendments to the federal Yukon Act in 2003 marked the final major step in Yukon's devolution process.

On April 1, 2003, Yukon became the first territory to take over land and resource management responsibilities. On that date, amendments to the federal Yukon Act came into effect, based on the Yukon Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement between the federal government, the Government of Yukon and signatory Indigenous groups. Prior to Yukon devolution, the Government of Canada, through Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, governed most natural resources in the territory.

Devolution negotiations began when Yukon's Devolution Protocol Accord was signed in September 1998 by the:

• Government of Canada
• Government of Yukon
• Council of Yukon First Nations on behalf of its members
• Kwanlin Dün First Nation
• Liard First Nation
• Kaska Tribal Council on behalf of the Ross River Dena Council and the Kaska Dena Council

In August 2012, amendments were made to resource revenue sharing arrangements under the Yukon Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement and the Canada-Yukon Oil and Gas Accord, allowing Yukoners to benefit from arrangements similar to those recently agreed to in principle as part of Northwest Territories devolution negotiations. These amendments ensure a greater portion of the revenues generated from the mining and resource economy in Yukon will be available for use in the territory.