Yukon government set on closing gaps exposed by widespread telecom outage

The territorial government is set on addressing any holes recently uncovered during a nearly 24-hour widespread telecommunications outage after fires knocked out both fibre-optic lines that supply the Yukon with connectivity. 

Dozens of Yukon community leaders at the municipal, territorial and federal level were up in Dawson City for the Association of Yukon Communities conference and annual general meeting when internet, phone and 911 services dropped across much of the Yukon on the evening of May 10. 

Telecommunications services were restored later on May 11.  

At a media briefing on May 12, a spokesperson for the emergency measures organization described the quick response of Northwestel crews from Whitehorse who travelled to the site of the outage to fix the cable, having to stop at times as conditions changed and the fire became too dangerous. 

READ MORE: Telecom restored to the Yukon but fires still threaten highways

A press release from the Yukon Party in the days following the outage prompted cabinet communications to issue a written statement in response to media requests about the Yukon government’s emergency response. 

“Ensuring reliable communication during emergencies is crucial, and we’re committed to working with partners to address any gaps that were exposed,” cabinet communications wrote. 

“We encourage every MLA to share ideas and suggestions with our government on how we can work together to support communication during challenging situations. Emergencies are a time where party lines disappear and everyone must work together to achieve the best outcomes for Yukoners.” 

READ MORE: Slow, costly, unreliable telecommunications in the North criticized during CRTC hearings

When the outage occurred at the conference and yearly meeting held hundreds of kilometres by road north of Whitehorse, Yukon government officials provided updates to meeting attendees about what was going on and provided access to Starlink. 

The statement indicates the government is looking for ways to improve its emergency response. 

“After any emergency event, we log lessons and discuss ways of improving future responses and incorporate what we hear from people around the territory about the impacts they experienced. We are still assessing the situation in collaboration with partners like Northwestel, and determining our most effective next steps, which could include reaching out to the Government of Canada for additional support,” cabinet communications wrote. 

Key takeaways noted by cabinet communications include having a battery-powered or wind-up radio, cash on hand and an emergency plan in place. 

The Yukon government is working on redundancies, like by putting money into the Dempster fibre project and working with Northwestel to make the system more resilient, per the statement. 

It’s not clear how the government plans to ensure its website and social media platforms are running during an outage, although the statement cites working quickly with local FM radio stations and Ham radio operators to broadcast emergency information by radio. That’s why the government encourages Yukoners to have a radio that doesn’t need to be plugged in.

An outage report, dated May 15, from CJUC Whitehorse Community Radio indicates while the station operated throughout the outage due to using Starlink as its primary internet provider, it didn’t didn’t get any contact or visits from the emergency measures organization, the Yukon government, the City of Whitehorse or Kwanlin Dün First Nation. The report states there has been no follow-up debrief.

When asked if informing and mobilizing radio stations will be part of a review, cabinet communications responded that “our reviews are always comprehensive and include other organizations involved in the response.” 

The statement adds that emergency responders use back-up communication tools like handheld radio systems, landlines and satellite phones. 

Cabinet communications noted that telecommunications providers have a duty to ensure access to 911. 

“We’re always identifying gaps and suggesting improvements,” they said.

 – With files from Jim Elliot  

Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com