WHITEHORSE — The Yukon government says it has authorized a special warrant to spend up to $31.7 million this budget year to "advance key priorities and maintain essential services."

Finance Minister Sandy Silver says in a statement that $15 million of that will be used to cover costs for wildfire response and comes from the $75-million contingency fund, without impacting the government's fiscal position.

However, $16.7 million of the special warrant is new funding and will go toward issues, including health, social services and $7.5 million on advance design work for the Yukon Gathering Place Convention Centre project.

Silver says $9.2 million will be spent on medical travel, housing for visiting health care professionals and to fund signing bonuses and exam fees to attract more nurses

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