COVID-19 enforcement officers are now empowered to turn non-essential travellers away at the Yukon border.

“We’ve been very clear that we must restrict non-essential visiting during this state of emergency and public health emergency to protect ourselves against the risk of further importing COVID-19 to the North,” Premier Sandy Silver told a media briefing Friday afternoon.

“Despite our strong recommendations for people to stop all non-essential travel into the Yukon, we still see people coming up our highway into the territory.”

Since April 6, enforcement officers have been stationed at the Yukon’s borders, where they have been informing travellers of self-isolation rules and collecting the declarations of people coming in.

Silver said officers did not have the power to turn people away from the territory until now. The large number of visitors seen this month has made stricter enforcement necessary.

The premier said border control has been strengthened to match the closure and safety measures within the territory, which were carried out at great sacrifice for Yukoners.

“We do not want these significant and well-appreciated efforts to be thwarted by recreational visitors bringing the virus to the territory,” Silver said.

Entry into the Yukon has now been limited to individuals who can provide evidence that they are:

• Yukon residents;

• Non-resident family members of Yukon residents;

• Delivering a critical or essential service;

• Transiting through the Yukon en route to a neighbouring place within 24 hours; and

• Exercising an aboriginal or treaty right.

Family members of Yukon residents wishing to enter the territory must provide a letter or email confirming that their family member is expecting their arrival.

Silver urged people to “think critically” about their reasons for travelling to the Yukon to reside with a family member.

He suggested this type of travel should be limited to residing with family that might require assistance during the pandemic, rather than because the Yukon seems like a pleasant place to isolate.

Enforcement officers have the discretion to turn back travellers based on the recommendations from Dr. Brendan Hanley, the chief medical officer.

“We don’t make this decision lightly, as we value and appreciate people who travel to Yukon as tourists” Silver said.

The premier urged hopeful tourists to continue planning a visit to the Yukon, but to understand now is not the right time.

Travellers allowed into the territory must still provide a declaration to enforcement officers, including contact information, report of any COVID-19 symptoms and plans for 14 days’ self-isolation.

Enforcement officers may follow up to ensure those 14 days of isolation are being followed.

Silver also provided an update to supports for businesses.

Applications were released last Wednesday for the Yukon Business Relief Program. As of Friday afternoon, the government had already received 300 inquiries, Silver said.

Those applications are now being processed by government officials. The deadline to apply for this funding is June 30.

The Yukon government is also promising a $1-million increase to the Tourism Cooperative Marketing Fund, Silver said. This will help the industry recoup when things begin to reopen, with more information promised for release on May 1.

A number of funding supports have been announced by the federal government, and Silver said he is pushing Ottawa to provide more details of this money’s availability.

“We know that Yukoners need this support quickly, and we are sending a strong message to the government to get this support flowing as soon as possible,” Silver said.