29-05-2025
Yukon gov't completed a third of health recommendations; critics say they should focus elsewhere
The Yukon government has completed 25 of 76 health-related recommendations from a 2020 report on improving the territory's health care, but critics say the government is failing to address the major issues.
The Putting People First report, published in 2020, was the result of a territorial health care review conducted by an independent panel. That panel made recommendations to improve Yukon health care, including creating a distinct health authority, a Whitehorse walk-in clinic and land-based healing programming.
On May 22, the territory said it had completed 25 with another 40 in progress.
But Yukon Party health critic Brad Cathers says the territory should focus on items mostly excluded from the report like surgical infrastructure, the doctor shortage and continuing care.
"We're seeing a lack of urgency on everything," Cathers said.
Cathers said he wants to see more aggressive recruitment of physicians from outside the territory. He pointed to a waitlist for the long-term care facility in Whistle Bend with "no plan to address it."
Yukon NDP Leader Kate White said she's also concerned about senior care and the lack of physicians specifically trained in geriatric care. She also pointed to the report's recommendation to reform social assistance. She said a review has happened, but there's no available information about next steps.
Dr. Derek Bryant, president of the Yukon Medical Association, says the Yukon has made good progress but acknowledged there's still a lot of work ahead.
"This was a really ambitious set of recommendations," he said. "We have to keep that in mind when we're looking at the progress."
Opening the Whitehorse walk-in clinic, increasing the medical travel subsidy and launching a land-based healing program are among the recommendations already actioned.
For Bryant, the number one outstanding recommendation is connecting every Yukoner with a primary care provider.
"We can't think of a single more important priority," Bryant said.
He said having proper access to care ultimately saves money and saves lives.
He agrees there should be more progress on items not in the report, like surgical infrastructure needed to sterilize equipment and an electronic medical record system, so people can have continuity of care between physicians.
Health authority in progress
The territorial government is also in the process of creating a distinct health authority. Yukon is currently one of two jurisdictions in Canada without the authority, along with Nunavut.
The territory passed the Health Authority Act, legislation that sets the framework for the new health authority, in 2024 and opened applications for the first board of directors May 20.
The new organization will be called Shäw Kwä'ą and will replace the Yukon Hospital Corporation.
Bryant said passing the legislation is a big step and said it's positive that it requires consultation with First Nations.
White thinks the Shäw Kwä'ą board of directors is being appointed too soon, before there's an established timeline for creating the authority. She said hospital and government employees still have questions about how the chang will impact them.
"We absolutely have to make sure that the people who are going to do the work are along for the ride, and that's not the case right now," White said.
