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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Thursday, March 19, 2020 — 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I will now call the House to order.
At this time, we will pro= ceed with prayers.
Prayers
SpeakerR=
17;s
statement re social distancing in the Chamber
Speaker: Before we proceed with the Daily Routine, I would like to draw members’ attention to the fact that the seating arrangem= ents have changed in the House today to accommodate social distancing due to the= COVID‑19 pandemic.
These measures have been = enacted by the Chair on the strong recommendation of the chief medical officer of health, with whom I spoke this morning, and are similar to what is occurrin= g in other legislative assemblies that are still sitting or are contemplating returning to sit for their own emergency measure debates.
Daily Routin=
e
Speaker: We will proceed at this time with the Order Pape= r.
I don’t believe tha= t we do have visitors — introduction of visitors?
Tributes.
Are there any returns or = documents for tabling?
Tabling Retu=
rns and
Documents
Hon. Ms. McPhee: As the Minister of Education, I have a legislative return that I would like to file in response to a questi= on by the Member for Copperbelt South on March 11, 2020. It is an an= swer to a question that he asked on that day.
Speaker: Are there any reports of committees?
Are there any petitions?<= /p>
Are there any bills to be introduced?
Are there any notices of = motions?
Notices of M=
otions
Mr. Cathers: I rise today to give notice of the foll= owing motion:
THAT this House urges the= Yukon government to work with the Yukon Agricultural Association, Growers of Orga= nic Food Yukon, the Fireweed Community Market, farmers, market gardeners, and processors to increase the production of locally grown food this year.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT, pursuant to Standin= g Order 2(5), the House be empowered to sit beyond 5:30 p.m. today for the purpose = of:
(1) completing Committee = of the Whole consideration and third reading of Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<= /i>;
(2) receiving the Commiss= ioner to grant assent to bills passed by this House; and
(3) if unanimous consent = is granted, debating a motion to adjourn the 2020 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, notwithstanding Standing Order 75(2).
I also rise to give notic= e of the following motion:
THAT the House, at its ri= sing on Thursday, March 19, 2020, do stand adjourned until 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 1, 2020.
Speaker: Are there any further notices of motions?
Is there a statement by a minister?
This then brings us to Qu= estion Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: COVID‑19 coronavirus — Opposition briefings
Mr. Hassard: Across the country, governments have be= en providing regular — sometimes even daily — briefings to the opposition parties on their response to COVID‑19. In Yukon, for two weeks, we’ve been trying to set up these regular briefings, and so fa= r, we’ve only been able to get one.
Now, these briefings are important for the opposition members to relay accurate and up-to-date information to our constituents. So, will the Liberals agree to provide all parties with regularly scheduled briefings on our response to and preparedn= ess for the pandemic?
Hon. Mr. Silver: In a nutshell, yes. We have be= en working with the chief medical officer — a request was put in to that medical office in support of having regular briefings for the opposition fr= om their department. I hope the members opposite can understand how busy that = department is right now. We are waiting for a response there. We will check back in to= day. I apologize for the lag.
But when it comes to our government specifically and those updates — we will definitely work w= ith the opposition to make sure that they are updated and briefed accordingly. =
Mr. Hassard: I will remind the Premier that we have heard this for the past couple of weeks, and it still hasn’t happened= . I would also remind the Premier that we’re getting hundreds of questions from constituents on this topic, and all we’re looking for is answers= and information that we can actually pass on to our constituents.
When the Premier is havin= g these conversations, will he in fact find out how regular these briefings will ta= ke place, as well as when they will actually begin to happen?
Hon. Mr. Silver: Again, we will look into the specifics of the questions from members opposite. We have been providing updates. We have talked about — not specifically to the opposition, b= ut we have talked about the $4‑million package that we provided to worke= rs and to businesses. We have talked about COVID‑19 testing and the supp= orts available online. We have talked about the business advisory council, which= has been set up to work with the private sector business community. We have tal= ked about the federal changes — the federal employment insurance sickness benefits. We know that all of this information and all of these supports are available on yukon.ca and canada.ca as well, for the most updated informati= on possible.
If passed, all of the pub= licly available information that we have available — if the members opposite can give us a sense of what other information that they’re also looki= ng for, then we would be grateful for that information. I guess the Member for Whitehorse Centre doesn’t like that approach, but at the same time, we will continue to get the information out there, as we have, and we will endeavour to get regular briefings for the members opposite in this ever-changing world.
Mr. Hassard: Also on the COVID‑19 pandemic, we have heard reports that the government is intending on using a local hotel = as part of its pandemic response. We’re curious if the Premier can confi= rm if this is, in fact, the case, or not, and will he provide the House with details on these proposed plans?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Great questions, for sure. I’m sure Yukoners are wondering how well prepared we are. I assure Yukoners that we are well prepared in Yukon. We continue to work with our c= hief medical officer — recognizing that the chief medical officers are extremely busy, and they are attempting to find the time necessary — = and we will continue to work with them so that they can provide the opposition = the information required.
A respiratory assessment = centre is being considered here in the city, and it is going to be up and running = in the next couple of days, and that will come out very shortly.
I wanted to just take a m= oment to say that our community is working really hard together. We have NVD, who has stepped up to the plate and is working with us. We are identifying a respiratory assessment centre, and that is an indication to Yukoners that we are taking the advice of our chief medical officer of health, working very closely to take best clinical advice on what should be seen with this respi= ratory assessment clinic, and we will work with our health professionals to ensure that happens.
Question re=
: COVID‑19
coronavirus impact on economy
Mr. Istchenko: In light of what is going on in the w= orld today and in the past few weeks, Canada’s major banks stepped up and announced that they will help customers with difficulties being experienced= by the outbreak through tools such as deferral of mortgage payments. This is g= ood news for Yukoners, who have already been struggling with the fallout from t= heir loss of business. But the economic impacts on the Yukon are huge, especially with the closure of the US border, which will really hurt my community of Haines Junction. Actually, it will hurt all of the Yukon, Mr. Speaker.=
This government has only announced a tiny stimulus package that comes nowhere close to overcoming the massive decline that we are going to see in our economy this summer. We only need to look around to see local bars and restaurants closing and limiting.=
Will the government be an= nouncing stimulus to support restaurants and retailers? I think what is really impor= tant for them is: When will this happen?
Hon. Mr. Silver: It is good to know that the members opposite think that $4 million in immediate relief is puny = 212; and also all of the other initiatives that are happening right now — billions of dollars flowing from the federal government — again, not enough for the Yukon Party, I guess.
I will say, as far as the= border restrictions that the member opposite talked about, our government is worki= ng very closely with our partners inside and outside the territory to mitigate= the potential of economic impacts in the Yukon. We absolutely understand the importance of the United States’ market to Yukon, to our tourism industry, to our mining industry, and the effects long-term restrictions on discretionary travel could have on Yukon businesses.
I spoke with the mayor of= the hamlet of Skagway just yesterday, urging him to give me a letter of what he assumes is essential travel — because, contrary to what the member opposite said, the border is not shut down. We are making sure that, by wor= king with both governments, essential travel continues. It is my firm belief that workers are essential travel. It is my firm belief that migrant workers are essential travel, and we want to push the two federal governments to make s= ure that they keep the border open so that our economy doesn’t suffer any more than it is already from COVID‑19.
There is a host of other responses that were involved in the massive package from the federal government, but I will reserve that for my next answer to the member opposite’s questions.
Mr. Istchenko: I think Yukoners are really looking forward to the Premier announcing these stimulus packages and I think they’re wondering when.
As the government contrac= t policy currently stands, they can hold off on paying contracts for 30 days after receipt. With growing uncertainty from the pandemic, many Yukoners cannot w= ait a month to be paid for services already rendered. With more and more govern= ment employees self-isolating, there is growing concern that there will — = will there be capacity to even meet the existing 30-day timeline? There are also concerns if contract work will even be available going forward.
I’m just wondering,= will the government commit to shortening the 30-day hold for paying out governme= nt contracts and pay Yukoners the money owed to them now to help overcome the economic uncertainty of this COVID‑19 pandemic?
Hon. Mr. Silver: When it comes to the $369 = ;million in capital assets that are getting out the door in this current budget, wha= t we can do together is get that budget passed so that we have that money flowin= g to the businesses that need it the most. Absolutely.
The member opposite talks= about a stimulus package. We announced one this week. That stimulus package was $4&= nbsp;million identified right up front to support workers and businesses. We will contin= ue to monitor the situation as we prepare to provide additional support as nee= ded. We’ve made announcements on sick leave. We’ve made announcement= s on government fees being waived. We’ve made announcements on grants for cancelled events. We’ve put up money for marketing tourism. We put up money for cultural industries. Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board premiums — deferring for businesses that are impacted by COVID&= #8209;19. We also have the business advisory council as well.
These are the actions tha= t this government has taken. I don’t have enough time to go over all of the announcements that affect support for businesses from the federal governmen= t, but they are lengthy and we are combing through the details as to how they affect Yukon businesses as we speak. More announcements will be coming. We’re not even close to the apex of this yet. We know that we have mu= ch more work to do and this government is keeping that work done and we are ve= ry supportive and thankful for the support that we are seeing not only from the federal government but from our neighbour governments as well when it comes= to the medical community — working with British Columbia, for example, is extremely important for Yukoners’ health and well-being.
Mr. Istchenko: Yukoners, and we on this side, are ve= ry supportive that there are stimulus packages coming forward from the federal government, from this Liberal government and from other jurisdictions. I th= ink people would just like a little more update on the details.
When it comes to the ques= tion about the contracting being paid, I believe we got an answer on that. We’re just trying to help the government here.
As I mentioned in my prev= ious question, banking institutions, corporations, business leaders, and the fed= eral government, have all stepped up with plans to help the average person try to mitigate the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic, using tools such as lo= an forgiveness, tax holidays, and more.
Yukon municipalities are = having similar conversations about what they can do within their power to help the= ir citizens. They are concerned, and they want to help. Property taxes are due partway through Yukoners’ summer, but we have already seen the devastating impacts that this virus is having on our tourism traffic and ma= rkets. We know that, this year, that will not be the case.
What does the government = have in place to ensure that Yukon municipalities are in a financial position to do their part to support Yukoners who may have difficulty making ends meet this summer?
Hon. Mr. Silver: We have ongoing conversations = not only with municipality governments but also First Nation governments and the federal government to make sure that all aspects of COVID‑19 are considered and that the financial and medical and mental health supports are there.
The member opposite glaze= d over a few of the items that we’re working on government-to-government. Agai= n, with the federal government’s announcements to support businesses, providing small businesses, small employers, a temporary wage subsidy of a period of three months — a great initiative from the federal governme= nt, announcing that all businesses may defer until after August 31, 2020, the payment of any income tax amounts owed before September 2020; export development corporations providing loans, guarantees, and insurance policie= s to exporters; providing more than $10 billion in additional support, largely targeted to small- and medium-sized businesses through the business credit availability program, and the list goes on and on.
We will continue to monit= or the situation. We are continuing to work whole-of-government and with all other governments to bring Canadians together for solutions. One of the most important pieces of those solutions is our municipalities. We are absolutely relying on our mayors and our councils to provide us with the information t= hat we need to help support Yukoners where they live. We were told directly from the Prime Minister’s Office that they need to know the anecdotal information from the First Nation chiefs and councils and that they need to know the anecdotal information from municipalities as well. We will continu= e to support those governments in that pursuit.
Question re=
: COVID‑19
coronavirus — working from home
Ms. White: Yesterday, public servants were informed = of new arrangements with regard to working from home. In the memo to managers — and I’m quoting: “The goal of this directive is that as many employees as possible, taking into account operational requirements, a= re able to work from home in order to increase social distancing and aid in the prevention of the spread of COVID‑19”
Mr. Speaker, it woul= d seem that some managers aren’t listening. Public servants are already e-ma= iling us, and they’re upset that their requests have been denied, even thou= gh they’re not in essential service positions and are entirely capable of working from home.
Can the minister tell us = why public servants are being denied the option of working from home?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I have been very clear with my responses to this COVID‑19 crisis when it comes to the civil service.= The health and well-being of our employees is paramount, and in order to bend t= he curve of this pandemic, we need employees to work from home, to get into th= eir houses, and to get out of the workplaces. That’s what we are working = on very, very diligently within the Public Service Commission, and I commend t= he civil servants who are working so very hard in these unprecedented times, in these uncharted waters, to actually bring about change to the workplace and= to our society.
The Public Service Commis= sion takes the health and safety of all employees very seriously. Proactively responding to the COVID‑19 situation is our top priority, and we are working collaboratively on several fronts in the government-wide effort to support the health and well-being of employees while ensuring that the prog= rams and services that Yukoners depend on continue to be available to Yukoners through this crisis.
The situation is continua= lly evolving. The commission is well-positioned to adapt as needs arrive through ongoing communications, implementation of new human resource initiatives, a= nd regular collaboration with our partners. We are closely following the advice and announcements of the chief medical officer of health, and I hope to answer = more on the next question.
Ms. White: Mr. Speaker, it’s not often th= at I will agree with the Minister of the Public Service Commission. I agree that public servants should be working from home. The problem is that they are b= eing denied. Youth programs have been cancelled, libraries are closed, and spring break has been extended for an additional two weeks. Families are already struggling with managing both caring for their families and work. Having the ability to work from home can ease the stress. Federal departments have deployed workers home. The City of Whitehorse has encouraged and supports t= heir employees to work from home.
So, Mr. Speaker, why= is this government, the largest single employer in the Yukon, denying public servan= ts the ability to work from home, and when is this government going to be doing everything possible to reduce the spread of COVID‑19 and flatten the curve by sending public servants home?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: An executive committee of depu= ty ministers established under the Yukon government’s pandemic coordinat= ion plan, and on the advice of the Public Service Commissioner, has issued a work-from-home directive to facilitate Yukon government departments entering into work-from-home arrangements with their staff being implemented as soon= as possible.
Individual departments are responsible for identifying which positions may be suitable for working from home, for implementing their business continuity plans, and for collaborati= ng with Highways and Public Works to ensure that employees have the technology= and tools required to carry out their duties if working from home.
Departments are now activ= ely putting in place work-from-home arrangements. We recognize that this will t= ake some time, but we are making best efforts to put these arrangements in plac= e as quickly as possible to support social distancing.
Mr. Speaker, if the = member opposite, the Member for Takhini-Kopper King, has a specific example, I hope that she brings it to casework so that we can actually deal with these prob= lems directly and not deal in innuendo. So, please get us that information. I wi= ll be happy to look it up for her.
Ms. White: Having worked in this position for nine y= ears and having developed the level of trust that I have with the people, I invi= te the minister to ask them to trust him in the same way.
So, Mr. Speaker, applications to work from home have been denied as of yesterday. Government offices are not set up to allow two metres of distance between desks, and shared workspaces are the norm for many government employees. Many public servants are feeling stressed and confused by the mixed messaging. They are hearing instructions that encourage them to apply to work from home, only t= o be denied.
Another quote from yesterday’s memorandum — and I quote: “The impact COVID= 8209;19 is having on our work arrangements is rapidly changing and we need to ensure that we support our staff through these unprecedented times.” It goes= on — and I quote: “Working together we can continue to support our employees through this challenging and fast moving situation.”
So, Mr. Speaker, how= does denying non-essential public servants the opportunity to work from home meet any of these objectives?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Once again, Mr. Speaker, = the health and well-being of our civil servants is absolutely paramount for me.= It is also paramount to society. The quicker we can get individuals out of the workplace and into their homes, the more effective our isolation procedures will be.
We, on this side of the H= ouse, have issued a directive. All of our deputies have been informed, and they a= re working as quickly as possible to methodically get civil servants into their houses to make sure that we can continue to provide the service that Yukone= rs depend on from this civil service.
The work of the Yukon gov= ernment of delivering services to Yukoners in the midst of this pandemic is absolut= ely critical, and we have to make sure that those services continue. So, we are doing this methodically and carefully. If the member opposite has real information for me to deal with, please bring it forward. I would be happy = to expedite the casework, because I want to know, and I want to make sure that this is going smoothly. So, please bring the information forward. Let’= ;s work together in the face of this unprecedented problem, and let’s wo= rk together as the Government of Yukon, as civil leaders, to make this better = and make this work.
Question re=
: Whitehorse
Emergency Shelter
Ms. Hanson: As we have heard already today, Yukoners have received clear messages about social distancing and the avoidance of l= arge gatherings. On Monday, the chief medical officer and the deputy chief medic= al officer of health restricted large gatherings to groups of no more than 50 = people. The Whitehorse Emergency Shelter is one location that has more than 50 individuals receiving services, such as meals and programming, every day.= p>
Mr. Speaker, what is= this government doing to address the requirements for social distancing at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter?
Hon. Ms. Frost: As we look at the concerns being brought forward from our community, we are taking everything into consideration, much as we are with the citizens who reside at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter — the citizens who come there to use the facility. = We are taking every precautionary measure, as we are with all of our facilitie= s, so that every Yukoner matters and their health a= nd safety is protected. We will continue to do that with our health profession= als, with the great staff that we have at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. I’m really happy to say that the department is working hard to ensure that all supports are in place for all of our citizens in the Yukon, and we will continue to do that good work.
Many individuals from Whi= tehorse and the communities participate in activities at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter, including meals and programming. Many of these individuals do not = have secure housing and have to couch surf or move around to different families = and friends’ homes.
Yesterday, a UN expert sa= id: “Housing has become the front line defence against the coronavirus. Home has rarely been more of a life or death situation…”
Mr. Speaker, what is= the plan to support individuals who are homeless or couch surfing if they need = to be safely quarantined?
Hon. Ms. Frost: For reference, we were speaking earlier about the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter and what’s available there.
When we started this proc= ess, we had 12 to 14 citizens accessing that facility, and I’m happy to say n= ow that we provide supports to 50 or more people on a daily basis for shelter, plus we provide over 300 meals a day, and we will continue to provide that service. We will ensure —
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Hon. Ms. Frost: I’m sure the member oppos= ite, if she would just stop for minute instead of being so aggressive all the ti= me and listen to the answers, then we will get to the point —
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Point
of order
Speaker: The Leader of the Third Party, on a point of ord= er.
Ms. White: Mr. Speaker, that is inflammatory la= nguage. I’m going to go for Standing Order 19(i).= It is abusive.
SpeakerR=
17;s
ruling
Speaker: The Minister of Health and Social Services is, t= o a certain extent, personalizing the debate. I would recommend that she perhaps steer clear of that.
I would also ask all memb= ers to listen closely when the member who has the floor is speaking. Sometimes I h= ave difficulty hearing. I have difficulty hearing the member who has the floor = by virtue of some of the other comments that are occurring off‑mic. There you have it.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I will respond to the question = that was asked. The question asked was: How many — and what are we doing at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter? What is available there for supports? I’m attempting to answer that question to say that we are working with the chief medical officer of health, and we are putting in place the measur= es necessary at all of our facilities that we manage in Health and Social Services.
Ms. Hanson: That was the first question. The second question had to do with homeless people who need to be safely quarantined. =
This government has large= numbers of auxiliary-on-call workers across government, but more particularly in He= alth and Social Services. We know that the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter is curre= ntly staffed by 37 auxiliary-on-call employees who are providing support and supervision to the individuals who are living at the shelter, utilizing the overnight emergency beds, and having meals. Auxiliary-on-call workers and casual workers are not entitled to paid leave.
Can the Premier confirm t= hat auxiliary-on-call workers and casual workers will be entitled to the paid s= ick leave announced earlier this week?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Of course, we want to ensure th= at we have the necessary staff in place to provide the supports for all Yukone= rs when we are currently dealing with this situation that we find ourselves in= . We are bringing in the supports that are required. If we need to do more, then= we will do that.
It’s essential that= we pass this budget so that we can secure the positions that have been identified. There are 37 positions, and we will continue to ensure that those individua= ls are providing services and stability at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. We have a number of rooms set aside that will ensure security and safety of al= l of the clients. We have measures in place, and we will continue to work with t= he staff there.
Question re=
: COVID‑19
coronavirus social distancing measures
Ms. Van Bibber: Today, the Speaker’s office received advice from the chief medical officer of health to have us all rearrange our seating plan in these Chambers to account for social distanci= ng. We have heard from many public servants that are concerned that they haven’t received information yet on what steps they should be taking = in their workplace.
Can the minister please t= ell us what the status of this work is and when it is expected to be completed?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I’m really happy to, once again, address this issue on the floor of the House. We appreciate the conc= erns being raised, and we have also heard from many concerned Yukoners, and we’re working around the clock to take the necessary measures to prot= ect the public.
The effort is happening i= n real time and methodically so that we do not unintentionally jeopardize essential services, but the goal is to get our workers into isolation to hinder the spread of this disease through the community. I have instructed officials t= hat public health is a lens through which these decisions must be made. Managers are currently working to get their staff out of the offices and into their = new, decentralized residential offices in their homes as quickly as possible.
We have implemented the b= usiness continuity plan to make sure that the civil service and the hard-working pe= ople of this government — and they are absolutely working at breakneck pace under very trying times, supporting the regular programming, supporting this House, trying to work through the COVID‑19 pandemic that we face, and also looking after their families as they go home from school and all the o= ther issues that they have to face.
I commend them for their = work on this. We are working very hard to make sure that we maintain the services t= hat Yukoners depend on.
Question re=
: COVID‑19
coronavirus — essential services preparedness
Ms. McLeod: As we discussed yesterday, the health ca= re field is not immune to capacity challenges that self-isolation and potential exposure to the virus is imposing on our workplaces.
The Yukon’s dedicat= ed and tireless health care professionals work hard year-round. Yet, in the wake of the COVID‑19 pandemic, things are likely to get busier. If our health care systems depend on overtime and the use of Outside agency nurses under normal operations, it begs the question: What contingencies are in place if= we need additional health care staffing, particularly in a time of national cr= isis where Outside nurses will be in demand across the country and be inclined to stay close to home where they can assist their own families?
What is this government d= oing to ensure that Yukon has priority access to Outside-based agency nurses to res= pond to the pandemic?
Hon. Ms. Frost: We are working — of cours= e, we have had the conversation with the union to look at providing additional su= pports here in the Yukon. We are also looking at contracting a nursing agency to provide the necessary supports to the Yukon. We are working with the physicians, and we are working on a virtual arrangement so that we can free= up some time for more supports, social distancing, and necessary protections f= or all of our citizens. We will continue to work with the agencies and work wi= th our health professionals to ensure that we have adequate support on the gro= und in the Yukon.
Ms. McLeod: In the event that the COVID‑19 pandemic touches the Yukon, our medical system n= eeds to be able to respond in a coordinated approach. We will need to utilize al= l of our dedicated health care professionals to the extent of their respective scopes. Our doctors and nurses will need to focus on their areas of experti= se, and Yukon pharmacists, for example, must focus on theirs.
Yet, after years of talk = and very little action, this government has not kept its promise to give pharmacists= the ability to administer publicly funded flu shots or extend prescriptions. If= a publicly funded vaccine for COVID‑19 becomes available, there is stil= l no billing system in place to allow pharmacists to administer the shots.
Will this government take immediate steps to ensure that Yukon pharmacists have the ability to admini= ster publicly funded vaccines and extend life-saving prescriptions?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: I am not certain where the member opposite got that information, but I want to say that we did pass new regulations for pharmacists under the Health Professions Act that expands their scope of practice for them to better serve Yukoners. They can now adapt prescriptions, extend prescriptions, acc= ess and use lab results related to prescriptions, and administer injections. So, I’m just very happy that this is there. That wasn’t as a result= of COVID‑19; that actually happened before this happened.
We just want to thank all= of our front-line health care providers. We will do our best to try to empower all= of them to serve Yukoners.
Ms. McLeod: I believe that the minister missed the p= oint of the question.
Our office continues to be contacted by concerned parents regarding the confusing messages this govern= ment is sending regarding the safety of childcare during the pandemic. With yesterday’s announcement of Yukon schools being closed for an extended period of time, many parents who are unable to work from home don’t k= now what to do.
Despite the measures bein= g taken to prepare for the pandemic, including self-isolation and working from home= , many of our territory’s dedicated essential services still need to show up= for work, which means that they will have to find or rely on childcare.
Can this government give = Yukon parents a clear, uncomplicated answer on what they should do to ensure safe= childcare arrangements for their children in the coming weeks?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Again, we rely on the chief med= ical officer to provide us with the necessary guidance. I believe that, only a c= ouple of days ago, he made it quite clear with us. We will continue to work with = our Family and Children’s Services branch to ensure a safe and careful approach to how we deal with childcare centres.
At this time, of course, = there are concerns from Yukoners and we always want to take that into considerati= on as we look at finding solutions. We have 67 centres, I believe, across the Yukon, and some have already elected to close on their own. He is working n= ow on a specific solution for how we deal with childcare centres. We will work under his advisement with respect to how pharmacists are billed.
I do believe that the Mem= ber for Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes spoke very succinctly about the response to the pharmacist regulations in allowing them to administer and bill accordingly. That is currently in negotiations, but that will be resolved through that process.
Speaker: The time for Question Period has now elapsed. = p>
We will now proceed to Or= ders of the Day.
Orders of th=
e Day
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, I request the unanimous consent of the House to move, without notice, a motion that, purs= uant to Standing Order 2(5), the House be empowered to sit beyond 5:30 p.m. for = the purposes of:
(1) completing Committee = of the Whole consideration and third reading of Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<= /i>;
(2) receiving the Commiss= ioner to grant assent to bills passed by the House; and
(3) if unanimous consent = is granted, debating a motion to adjourn the 2020 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, notwithstanding Standing Order 75(2).
Unanimous consent to move withou= t notice a motion to sit beyond normal hour of adjournment
Speaker: The Government House Leader has requested the unanimous consent of the House to move, without notice, a motion that, purs= uant to Standing Order 2(5), the House be empowered to sit beyond 5:30 p.m. for = the purposes of:
(1) completing Committee = of the Whole consideration and third reading of Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<= /i>;
(2) receiving the Commiss= ioner to grant assent to bills passed by the House; and
(3) if unanimous consent = is granted, debating a motion to adjourn the 2020 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, notwithstanding Standing Order 75(2).
Is there unanimous consen= t?
All Hon. =
Members: Agreed.
Speaker: Unanimous consent has been granted.
Motion to sit beyond normal hour= of adjournment
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, I move:
THAT, pursuant to Standin= g Order 2(5), the House be empowered to sit beyond 5:30 p.m. for the purposes of: <= /p>
(1) completing Committee = of the Whole consideration and third reading of Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<= /i>;
(2) receiving the Commiss= ioner to grant assent to bills passed by the House; and
(3) if unanimous consent = is granted, debating a motion to adjourn the 2020 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, notwithstanding Standing Order 75(2).
Speaker: It has been moved by the Government House Leader= :
THAT, pursuant to Standin= g Order 2(5), the House be empowered to sit beyond 5:30 p.m. for the purposes of: <= /p>
(1) completing Committee = of the Whole consideration and third reading of Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<= /i>;
(2) receiving the Commiss= ioner to grant assent to bills passed by the House; and
(3) if unanimous consent = is granted, debating a motion to adjourn the 2020 Spring Sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, notwithstanding Standing Order 75(2).
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. T= hank you to all Members of the Legislative Assembly for their collaboration with respect to this matter and for the opportunity to speak to this. I will be = very brief.
I think we all agree R= 12; not speaking for anyone else — that the budget is, in fact, critical to Yukoners — Bill No. 203, which is noted in this motion. It is critical for certainty going forward in what is currently an uncertain worl= d. It is critical for programs and services to continue. It is important and critical for businesses to know that the Yukon government’s five-year capital plan, for instance, will continue and to give security to Yukoners, with respect to the spending authority of the government going forward and = the direction that is set out in this particular budget for 2020‑21, to indicate the route ahead — which is changing hourly, as we know, but nonetheless, it is a critical signal to Yukoners that the government and th= is Legislative Assembly agrees to be supportive of their security and peace of mind.
I would like to thank the= parties for agreeing, as I understand is the case, to stay late tonight to work on behalf of Yukoners for the purposes of providing this budget certainty going forward, well into what is beyond the current spending permitted by the oth= er bills that we passed earlier this week. None of us have an idea of how long this situation will last, and it is important that we signal to Yukoners that the government is strong and it is debating and then ultimately, hopefully, pas= sing a budget for 2020‑21 for the purposes of signalling forward how the government will maintain the course and adjust, as necessary, to all of the issues that are coming at each of us every single day — each Yukoner every single day — and that the security of their peace of mind is critical going forward.
Mr. Kent: Granted, these are extraordinary times tha= t we are living in right now, and those extraordinary times sometimes call for extraordinary measures. Obviously, earlier this week, we expedited debate, eventual voting, and then passage on the interim supply bill and the supplementary budget from last week, and we look forward to debating in Committee of the Whole today the Health and Social Services and Education budgets and other departmental budgets as much as we can so that we can pro= vide some scrutiny around that.
I’m hopeful that, t= his fall when the House reconvenes, whether or not all departments have votes in the supplementary budget that we expect to see this fall, the Premier will prov= ide access to particularly those ministers and officials during general debate = of the departments that we perhaps aren’t able to touch on in the work t= hat we’re going to accomplish up to and beyond 5:30 p.m. today.
We are supportive of this= motion that is before the House before and I wish all Yukoners to stay safe, be healthy, and as a resilient bunch of citizens and individuals who we are up here, I know that we’ll emerge on the other side of this stronger tha= n we were going in.
Of that, I am certain. Ag= ain, these are extraordinary measures that we’re doing, and Yukoners can r= est assured that we will do our job in the time today and into this evening to = get answers on some of those bigger departments that we have identified to come before Committee of the Whole today.
Speaker: Is there any further debate on the motion?
If the member now speaks,= she will close debate.
Does any other member wis= h to be heard on this motion?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I thank the member opposite for his comments and for the collaboration going forward. I would also like jus= t to take a moment to thank all of those who support this Legislative Assembly. = We are making a decision to do this work in collaboration today and beyond the hours that might normally be required. There is a great thanks needed to al= l those who support this process — our staff in each of the offices and our s= taff in each of the departments who will be required to be here. In particular, I would like to express our thanks to Hansard and to all of the members of th= is Legislative Assembly for the purposes being here, working together on behal= f of Yukoners. I think that, in extraordinary times, as the member opposite said, extraordinary measures are required. I hope, and I know, that we’re always here on behalf of Yukoners and that won’t change today, but I appreciate the support of all that will allow this process to play out this afternoon.
Motion agreed to
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of the House to move, without notice, a motion to adjourn the House at its rising today until Oct= ober 1, 2020.
Unanimous c=
onsent
to move without notice a special adjournment motion notwithstanding Standing
Order 75(2)
Speaker: The Government House Leader has, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of the House to move, = without notice, a motion to adjourn the House at its rising today until October 1, 2020.
Is there unanimous consen= t?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Speaker: Unanimous consent has been granted.
Special adjournment motion
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, I move:
THAT the House, at its ri= sing on Thursday, March 19, 2020, do stand adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2020.
Speaker: It has been moved:
THAT the House, at its ri= sing on Thursday, March 19, 2020, do stand adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on T= hursday, October 1, 2020.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I will be extremely brief with respect to this collaboration between the parties. This morning, conversati= ons between the leaders and the House Leaders have taken place, and I’m pleased to present this on behalf of the Legislative Assembly and the government today for the purposes of providing some certainty as we go forw= ard with the important business of this Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Kent: I, too, will be brief and suggest that = 212; hopefully, as this situation passes — the House Leaders can get toget= her during the recess and come up with a plan. I mean, we would be looking to s= eek the maximum number of days for that Fall Sitting — and I believe that maximum number is 40 — just so we can take care of and get answers to some of the business that we weren’t able to do in this abbreviated Spring Sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Is there further debate on the motion?
If the member now speaks,= she will close debate.
Does any other member wis= h to be heard?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Again, I will take this opportunity to thank the Members of the Legislative Assembly and all those = who support us in this work. There will be alternate ways for the members of the opposition to seek information, alternate from the House Sitting that we are speaking about today — opportunities to do that. We certainly commit = to providing answers to their questions and as much information and cooperation going forward as possible. We expect, as suggested by the member opposite, = that there are a lot of ways that this can happen, and we are certainly committe= d to making sure that our government is accountable.
Motion agreed to
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I move that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Government House Leader that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Motion agreed to
Speaker leaves the Chair
Committee of=
the
Whole
Chair (Mr. Hutton): Committee of the Whole will now = come to order.
The matter now before the Committee is general debate on Vote 15, Department of Health and Social Services, in Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Do members wish to take a 10-minute recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Committee of the Whole will recess for 10 minutes.=
Recess
Chair: Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
Bill No.&nb=
sp;203: First Appropriation Act 2020‑21 =
—
continued
The matter before the Com=
mittee
is general debate on Vote 15, Department of Health and Social Services=
, in
Bill No. 203, entitled First
Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Is there any general deba= te?
Department of Health and Social Services
Hon. Ms. Frost: I would like to just take a mom= ent and ask my support staff to come in and take their seats. I am pleased to present the 2020‑21 main estimates for Health and Social Services. I = have with me today Deputy Minister Stephen Samis and ADM of Corporate Services Karen Chan. The budget for Health and Social Serv= ices is entirely dedicated to serving Yukoners’ health needs — both mental and physical.
In light of the global pa= ndemic we are dealing with, we can all agree that ensuring Yukoners’ health needs are met — it is absolutely essential that we do that.
I will keep my remarks sh= ort today so that we can proceed as quickly as possible, keeping in mind that t= he chief medical officer of health declared a public health emergency in our territory yesterday. That has urged us to focus our efforts on responding to that emergency.
I am joined by my great s= taff here who will help to provide some information as we move along here as expeditiously as we can. I know that they are both extremely busy with loca= l, national, and regional coordination here in the Yukon. The efforts of our h= ealth care system to manage the COVID‑19 situation is, of course, top of mi= nd for everyone. In particular, they are both working tirelessly to identify o= ur territory’s needs now and in the coming weeks and months so that we c= an effectively leverage federal government supports to manage health care need= s in our territory. As the situation develops, that work is extremely pressing a= nd absolutely critical.
This budget was prepared = before the global pandemic emerged. That federal funding will help us to protect t= he public health of Yukoners in the short term. We appreciate you joining us t= oday to help explain the 2020‑21 budget for Health and Social Services. In this budget, we are requesting $448,580,000 in operation and maintenance funding, an increase of 4.5 percent over the last fiscal year. We are requesting $12,815,000 in capital funding, bringing our total appropriation request to $461,395,000.
Estimates in this budget = include funding for a shingles vaccine for Yukon seniors. It also includes support = for those already enrolled in the pilot constant glucose monitoring project. Mo= re broadly, the Health and Social Services budget provides funding for NGOs and non-profits, long-term care facilities, emergency shelter in Whitehorse and= in our communities, the Housing First residence in Whitehorse, community health centres, social assistance, the public health initiative, and staff salaries including for nurses and front-line staff. It also includes funding for our hospitals.
Last year, we heard conce= rns from the Yukon Party about Yukon hospital funding. I am proud to say that, as we have every year since coming into office, we have increased the funding for= the Yukon Hospital Corporation so it can continue to provide acute care for Yuk= on citizens, in addition to programs such as medical imaging, lab work, surger= ies, and chemotherapy, as well as the extended orthopaedic surgery program.
We will continue to work = closely with the Yukon Hospital Corporation to respond to their changing needs as t= he COVID‑19 situation develops. Just this morning, I spoke to the chair, and we’ll continue to have that ongoing dialogue to look at their needs as well.
The last thing that I wou= ld like to note is that we appreciate the work of the MLAs to expedite the interim supply bill this week. This will ensure that funding is in place until the = end of May. However, that bill only includes $100 million for Health and Social Services — not even a quarter of the budget needed to ensure t= hat we can continue to meet the needs of Yukoners at all stages of their lives.=
We are anticipating addit= ional costs as a result of COVID‑19 mitigation efforts. We are tracking the spending so that we can work with the federal government to recover our add= ed costs.
But, let me be clear, the= interim supply bill does not provide the department with enough financial flexibili= ty to address the current situation beyond the next few weeks.
In the coming days, we are opening a respiratory assessment centre staffed by physicians and health ca= re providers where people can be tested for COVID‑19. That will be coming out shortly.
We are also working on a = separate space that, if the need arises, could be used to house Yukoners who need to= be isolated and are not able to do so in their own homes or in their own communities.
We are also expanding the= 811 line to increase capacity. We have activated an online self-assessment tool= and are improving the website to ensure that Yukoners have easy access to key i= nformation.
I cannot stress strongly = enough how quickly people are working. The Yukon public service is meeting daily w= ith First Nations and municipal governments to share information. The Yukon government is working hard to keep Yukoners safe and is, of course, keeping health at the top of mind of everyone as we manage the situation. To that e= nd, I ask the opposition parties to please act responsibly and move as quickly = as we can through the budgets and to be specific on the questions that they wo= uld like to ask, and I will do my best to respond appropriately to the question= s.
Ms. McLeod: Now, in last year’s budget, there = was a line item of $100,000 to conduct a study or survey regarding homelessness= in Watson Lake. Last November, I wrote a letter to the minister regarding this funding and what its status was. The minister referenced that a fulsome assessment was being undertaken by Help and Hope for Families Society of the housing needs for Watson Lake. This study was anticipated to be finished at= the end of 2019. I wonder if the minister could now give us an update.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Actually, that study is due to = be completed at the end of April of this year.
Ms. McLeod: If I understood the minister, the date w= as extended beyond the end of 2019 until the end of April 2020.
Hon. Ms. Frost: It was always April 2020.
Ms. McLeod: I am just going on the basis of the information received from the minister previously.
With respect to that repo= rt that is not due until the end of April, I wonder if the minister could tell us something about the capital request of $500,000 toward this project.
Hon. Ms. Frost: If I can ask the member opposit= e to be more specific — because I am not finding that in my materials. If I can’t find it today, I will certainly endeavour to get that informati= on at a later time.
Ms. McLeod: It is located on page 5 of the five-year capital plan, which says up to $500,000 for a Watson Lake Housing First project, with $3 million or $4 million committed for next year. T= his just struck me as a bit off since the report is not done or expected until = the end of April. The minister can respond to that at her leisure.
I have a question about t= he mental health hubs. First of all, I would like to know if they are fully staffed.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I am just trying to get the specific information. I do know that we have the four mental wellness hubs — Watson Lake, Carmacks, Haines Junction, and Dawson City. The object= ive is to ensure that we have reduced the wait times for mental wellness suppor= ts in all of our communities. Our objective is certainly always to ensure that we have a full staffing complement in each one of those centres.
I would be happy to provi= de specific details on how many positions we have. The very specifics — = we have already shared that, but I can get back to the member opposite. The current staffing in our communities — in Dawson City, we have three mental wellness counsellors, a youth/child counsellor, a clinical psycholog= ist, a mental health nurse — we are recruiting for one mental wellness sup= port counsellor, two support workers, and the list goes on. I can provide the me= mber opposite with the information. We currently have all of our hubs staffed. <= /p>
Like every other sector o= f our government, there are vacancies. We will continue to fill those vacancies as they arise, but rest assured that Yukoners have the support they need for mental wellness supports.
Ms. McLeod: I have a question about the staff themselves. The minister can respond by letter if she wants to detail the positions themselves; however, my question is about the staff and whether a= ll of them work out of the hubs themselves. For instance, if a mental health n= urse works out of a hospital, are they considered to be part of the mental welln= ess hub?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The staff have their own separa= te offices in the communities out of the hubs. As we do with every community, = we look at a collaborative care model. We work with our hospitals, we work with all of our health care staff in our communities, and we will continue to do this. For this specific instance, the mental wellness hubs have their own offices established in each one of the communities identified.
Ms. McLeod: If I could get clarification — by = way of letter is fine — about the positions and where they are working fr= om, I think that might be helpful for people, because I didn’t get that t= hey all work out of the mental wellness hubs, although I get that they have the= ir own suite of offices.
When we were in debate ea= rlier on the concept of the mental wellness hubs, the minister indicated that there = would be a report generated that would speak to the effectiveness of the mental wellness hubs and how they are addressing and meeting the needs of Yukoners. I’m wondering if that report is available.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Keep in mind that the mental wellness hubs were non-existent just three short years ago. We established = the mental wellness hubs to provide really essential services and supports to o= ur communities. Every year as we look at the hubs, we look at efficiencies, an= d we work with our communities around their community wellness plans. We want to continue to undertake that review with the respective communities.
We are just now, through = our comprehensive health review and through other measures, looking at all of o= ur program services to ensure that they efficiently and effectively meet the n= eeds of each one of our communities. The member opposite spoke earlier about the $500,000 that is actually identified in the Yukon Housing Corporation budge= t. I would be happy to speak to that when I rise to speak to the Yukon Housing Corporation budget.
Ms. McLeod: Just my thought on this deferring discus= sion to another department — I just find it a bit odd, since it’s generated under Health and Social Services and this government likes to talk about a one-government approach. I will leave that there.
If I understood the minis= ter, then — that there has been no report generated to talk about the effectiveness of the mental wellness hubs, as the minister had indicated wo= uld happen within a year of their staffing, I guess, rather than at their creat= ion. I will talk a bit more later about the health review itself.
Some of the things that I= would like to hear about when we are talking about the mental wellness hubs ̵= 2; something about client loads from community to community, where the four hu= bs are, and whether or not all of the staff are being fully utilized, which mi= ght indicate that there is a need for additional staffing. Of course, we can’t know that unless we know what the numbers are. So, if the minis= ter could expand on that a bit.
You know, when I am tryin= g to establish where the mental health workers are located, I would also like to know how many of them are travelling workers — so they may reside in Whitehorse and service Mayo and Watson Lake or whatever the case may be.
Hon. Ms. Frost: A very interesting line of questioning — wanting to know what the positions are, where they are, whether they reside in the communities, and where they travel. As I indicat= ed, I can provide that information, but those are very specific details, and it will take me some time to respond. I would be happy to do that if that is t= he prerogative of the member opposite.
There are a number of pos= itions that we shared with the House previously, and I would be happy to do that a= gain — very specific, detailed information and a map on where all of these positions are identified and the supports that they provide to Yukoners. We have expanded the support services to all of the communities. Every communi= ty has a support individual in the community — be it a mental wellness counsellor or a social worker — which we haven’t had previously. So, we look at efficiencies in each one of our communities. We look at designing and being adaptive in order to meet and provide services in the b= est way possible and so that it evolves with the community and the community surrounding it.
Each one of our communiti= es is very unique unto itself. It is imperative that we work with the communities= . We have since added more positions to what we originally identified with our mental wellness hubs. I am very proud of the great work that is happening in our communities — introducing rapid access counselling throughout our communities. The wait time and delay time now has gone down to 72 hours, an= d we are trying to make that even shorter. If it’s imminent and you need support, we will make sure that you get the support required.
We also now provide suppo= rt to All Genders Yukon, collaborating with services in other sectors of our soci= ety, not just through the mental wellness hubs. We have other contracts as well = that work to ensure that we provide the good work and the support to all Yukoner= s, no matter where they reside in the Yukon.
We are adding additional = funding to the hubs in 2020, so we have an additional $400,000 for that. We are loo= king at the comprehensive health review, and the recommendations that come out of that will give us a good indication of what is happening in our communities= . We said that we would review the hubs as required, and we will continue to do = that and have a look at each one of our local communities, ensuring that we have= the necessary supports and adjust to their needs.
Ms. McLeod: I recognize that these are specific questions, but they are the responsibility of the department, so I can̵= 7;t apologize.
Every week when I go home= , I hear from people who say that the mental health supports are not sufficient to m= eet their needs, which is why I am asking the question and why I’m looking for a report that the minister can point to that says, yes, the hubs are fu= lly staffed and that, yes, they are fully deployed and that perhaps the governm= ent is satisfied that it is enough. I think, if we had a report by an independe= nt body, that might help us decide that.
I appreciate the minister mentioning five new mental health workers. As I understand it, those are fu= lly dedicated workers for the Yukon Review Board, so I am not entirely sure how that helps out our mental wellness hubs.
I am going to move on. = p>
The minister spoke about = the — I guess, before I move on from mental health, it begs the question — with so many people out of work now and people wondering how they’re going to pay their bills, wondering how they’re going to pay the rent, I can only imagine it has led to a great deal more mental str= ess. I’m wondering what new initiatives have been put in place for all Yuk= on communities to deal with COVID‑19 and those associated stressors.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Like the member opposite, we do care about Yukoners. We care deeply about Yukoners, and we will ensure that= we provide the supports where supports are needed. We want to really assure Yukoners that we are working really hard and we are working around the cloc= k. I want to just hold up my hands to the public servants in the government and = all of our mental wellness support sector. We are working very closely with our service providers to ensure that they are on hand. They are an essential se= rvice in all of our communities, recognizing that people are under immense stress, and the stressors that they feel, we feel as well.
I feel it. My little comm= unity of Old Crow is feeling it. So, every community is having some major challenges= . We will certainly ensure that we provide supports in time. We have been doing = that every day with our conference calls, taking a collaborative health approach, and communicating to our communities, through our Association of Yukon Communities reps, through our coordinated health approach.
Now, I had just mentioned= — when we talked about the mental wellness hubs — the rapid access resp= onse counselling. The objective of that is to provide the services very rapidly.= The member opposite speaks about COVID‑19 and the imminent stresses people are feeling. That’s the objective of the rapid access counselling sup= port.
Ms. McLeod: I thank the minister for her response.= p>
In talking about the heal= th review, I believe a report was due to be tabled at the end of this month. Is that on track?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes.
Ms. McLeod: When will that be? What is its future? I= s it going to be released to the public? Is it going to be released to the Legislature? Just how is it going to be handled?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The independent expert panel is= on track and we will, once we receive the report, look to the review and make = the determination through the appropriate channels. When that is revealed, I wi= ll let the member opposite know.
Ms. McLeod: So, there is no plan to — I don’t know — tell anybody outside of caucus offices, I guess, w= hat is in the report, which I find distressing. Even if it were a matter of bei= ng tabled in the House, I would find it a little alarming if it’s not go= ing to be revealed until October of this year.
Is there anything in this year’s budget to reflect any of the work initiated by the health revi= ew?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Let’s just say that suggesting that we’re not going to tell anyone is inappropriate. The independent expert panel did a very great job of consulting with Yukoners, seeking their input on efficiencies of health programming and supports. It’s very important that we take that into consideration. They’= ve gone above and beyond and they’ve really gone out to look at Yukoners= and seek their input. Certainly, we will take all of that under consideration a= nd it would be — at this moment in time, we haven’t seen the repor= t. So, when we see the final report, of course the adjustments will be made and we will look at the report for additional resources if required.
So, at this point in time= , no.
Ms. McLeod: I mean, the obvious question for me to a= sk is when the health review will be implemented, but I can already see where = that answer would go so I won’t even ask that. =
A couple of questions abo= ut home care. In this year’s budget, there is an additional five full-time employees for the home care program.
According to the official= s, 0.5 of an FTE is for administration, particularly to do with the scheduling of staff for weekends. That leaves 4.5 positions. I’m wondering where th= ose positions are located.
Hon. Ms. Frost: As we look at home care, we also need to look beyond home care. We need to look at the supports we provide to Yukoners who want to re-enter their homes or the re-enablement units at the Thomson Centre — so we look at the whole care — not just acute care, but how do we transition the client from the hospital to home? That m= eans that we make some adjustments in ensuring that we provide necessary support= s to our citizens who choose to remain at home.
In the last four years, t= he budget for the home care program — from 2015, there was $5,833,000 an= d, this year, we have $9,863,000, and that’s really an expansion in the scope of care. We’re looking at nursing staff; we’re looking at home support workers; plus we have weekend suppo= rts as well. We also need to consider that, in every one of our communities, we’re providing family support workers and similar positions to our communities. The home care program provides care coordination, regional home support, community-based nursing, and regional therapist services — so trying to coordinate that efficiently so that we can maximize opportunities= for resources and supporting our clients.
All of those positions ar= e out of Whitehorse, but by virtue of that, they support the communities as well.
Ms. McLeod: I am not clear on where those 4.5 new positions are. Are they all located in Whitehorse?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes, all the positions are in Whitehorse, and as I noted, we are working with our communities. We have alternate positions in our communities. These individuals will also be work= ing out of Whitehorse and supporting our communities.
Ms. McLeod: Now, if I had some folks in, let’s= say, Watson Lake who wanted to know what improvements have been made to home care programs in their community in the last year, what can I tell them?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I’m not certain that I’m speaking very specifically about Watson Lake. I don’t know = that specific information, but what I can tell the member opposite is that home = and community work is essential to supporting the work of the aging population = and we have identified that in our aging action plan — of course, emphasi= s on the home philosophy. How do you stay at home longer? We will continue to en= sure that we provide supports and enhancements to all of our citizens, no matter where they reside in the Yukon, and that is the objective of this increased funding — to ensure that we have positions supporting the communities= .
I’m not sure about = Watson Lake, but if there is a specific question, I would be happy to respond to t= hat.
Ms. McLeod: I used Watson Lake as an example, but it could have easily been Dawson City or Mayo or Carcross — anywhere out= side of Whitehorse.
My question is about whet= her or not services and supports have been increased in the rural communities R= 12; rural Yukon. I appreciate the motherhood statements about the goals of the program and I support them — absolutely — but I do know that, f= or some of our folks, they are getting an hour a week and it is not enough. So= , I am looking for whether or not there have been any improvements for them.
I know that these things = were brought up when there was a panel that went to talk to some of our seniors = and elders to find out what their thoughts were about the home care program. I never did see a report on that. I appreciate that there has been an increas= e in funding and I thank the federal government for that, actually, because they pumped about $5 million into this program, which leads me to another question, of course. I believe it was last year that there were $210,000 of those federal dollars that went into this program. I am wondering: In this year’s budget, how much of the federal funding is added to the home c= are budget?
Hon. Ms. Frost: All of the funding is Yukon government funding.
Ms. McLeod: My question is: What happened to the fed= eral funding that they announced?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I just wanted to speak specific= ally to the budget. So, we’ve increased the budget from last year. There a= re significant resources in this year’s budget — $680,000, to be exact. We will continue to work with our federal colleagues, and if there a= re resources available, we will ensure that we get access to some of that fund= ing. At this moment in time, what I presented is the budget that we have availab= le here in the Yukon.
The bilateral agreement i= ncluded the $680,000.
Ms. McLeod: I’m a little bit mystified then, because there was a big press release regarding the additional roughly $5&n= bsp;million for mental health supports and $5 million for home care, which was supposed to be paid over a 10-year period. My question is: Where’s th= e money?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The $680,000 from the previous budget is still there in this year’s funding.
Ms. McLeod: So, by my reckoning, then, that is $680,= 000 plus the $210,000 from the previous year — is that the sum total of t= he money that has been received from the federal government for home care thro= ugh their announcement?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The current budget for this yea= r is $9,863,000 to provide support to all Yukoners. That’s inclusive of the federal funding that we’ve received.
Ms. McLeod: Just for clarification, did the minister= say that the budget of $5 million was entirely federal funding?
Hon. Ms. Frost: No, that’s not what I sai= d.
Ms. McLeod: Thanks. Maybe the minister can clarify t= hat, because she just referenced a $5 million-and-change budget figure, whe= n, a few minutes ago, she said the budget was $9 million and some.
Hon. Ms. Frost: That was from 2015 — the funding that was in the support program at that time. I was referencing the increase to where we are currently and the expanded scope of care for all Yukoners through the mental wellness hubs, through the counsellors within e= very one of our communities and our social workers in our communities. That̵= 7;s what this covers.
Just so I’m extreme= ly clear for the record: The funding of $5,833,000 was from 2015. This year, we have $9,863,000. A portion of that came from the federal government. The objecti= ve is to provide centralized support to all Yukoners to ensure that they have mental wellness supports, and it ensures that we have rapid access counsell= ing under the current situation we find ourselves in.
Ms. McLeod: I guess I’m just trying to get cle= ar on the funding that the federal government has contributed with regard to m= oney for mental health supports and a separate pot of money for home care.
The federal government wa= s very specific about those two programs when they announced their funding. In the budget documents from last year — I believe it was last year — = the budget documents — the supplementary information that the department provided specifically laid out $210,000 recoverable from that program. I believe the minister is indicating that, this year, it’s $680,000, but what’s less clear is whether or not that went specifically to home ca= re or if it was more broad-based or that it was funnelled into additional ment= al health supports — I can’t follow the money.
Hon. Ms. Frost: A bit of crossover between home care and mental wellness — I can answer the mental wellness questions separately, but the home care budget — I just gave a very specific an= swer on that. $680,000 comes from the federal government, and the home care R= 12; pardon me, the mental wellness question was asked earlier. I gave the speci= fic answers on that one.
Ms. McLeod: Okay. Roger that. I’m not talking about mental wellness in this case. The minister has said $680,000 federal dollars in this budget for home care, which should leave in excess of $4&nb= sp;million remaining to be received from the feds under a 10-year program.
Does the minister have an= y idea at this time as to how this is going to roll out?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The member opposite is speaking about $4 million over 10 years. I am not exactly clear what the member opposite is speaking to, so if she could be more clear<= /span>, I would be happy to respond to that question.
Ms. McLeod: Maybe I should back up a bit.
Does the minister remembe= r the announcement of $5 million and change — I don’t have the e= xact figure — that the federal government announced as a contribution to t= he Yukon? It was a 10-year program. Let’s start there. Let’s estab= lish that figure.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I am just seeking clarification here.
We received funding for t= he first five years. Where we are right now — it ramped up to where it sits currently at $680,000. We are negotiating the next five years. My understan= ding is that, in the year coming, we will get another $684,000 exactly.
Ms. McLeod: Thank you very much for that. I am sorry= if I am blasting you from time to time.
I want to just move on to daycare. I thought I heard the minister reference earlier, in the last coup= le of weeks, that there were improvements being made to daycare funding. Can t= he minister tell us something about that?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The early learning childcare program was negotiated under the mandate of Minister Duclos, and Yukon rece= ives $7.2 million in funding. That will roll out over three years. We have = come to the end of that term. We now have a one-year extension on that agreement= . I do believe that the amount is $2.3 million. I will clarify that, but t= he extension has continued on. We will see that in this year’s budget. T= here is no disruption to the early learning childcare program funding.
Ms. McLeod: I appreciate that information. So, there= is $2.3 million for this one-year extension. If I understand the minister correctly, that is simply to maintain current funding levels. What happens = at the end of this year? Is there going to be a drop in funding for childcare?=
Hon. Ms. Frost: The funding that we’re negotiating with Canada is a continuation of previous years’ funding.= The objective is to get another three years of funding, and that’s what we’re negotiating right now. We want to ensure that we get sufficient resources here in the Yukon, a continuation of what’s there right now. There will be no disruption of services.
Ms. McLeod: Is there anything in this budget that wi= ll increase funding to childcare centres, either through the direct operating grant or through subsidies or other mechanisms?
Hon. Ms. Frost: With regard to rural childcare,= the question is whether or not the funding will be maintained at the same level= or increase. We are working through the department, looking at the funding tha= t we have right now and ensuring that the funding remains consistent for all of = our communities.
We are negotiating curren= tly with the federal government for the continuation of the early learning childcare budget, which we hope to finalize. I hope that there are the increments tha= t we have asked for.
We have also taken an ext= ended measure, and that was to look at our rural childcare program and a special review of the Little Blue Daycare and the Watson Lake daycare.
These programs are the on= ly non-profit licensed childcare programs in rural Yukon. We’ve worked w= ith the communities to ensure the sustainability of these pilot projects, and we will continue to provide the supports there. I’m really happy with th= at. We have, as of January 2020, significant resources in the budget to provide support. On January 14, 2020, in fact, we had $92,173 of a direct operating grant provided to these two childcare centres. My understanding is that we = had $581,000 approximately for the pilot project.
Ms. McLeod: So, I understand that the minister is negotiating an additional three-year funding agreement. I presume this one-= year extension will form part of that and that the current levels of funding will continue. I did not hear that there would be an increase for any childcare centre, and the minister can correct me if I’m wrong on that.
Now, given that childcare= centres are affected by COVID‑19, what kind of instructions have been given to childcare centres on how they should be managing both additional cleaning or social distancing or limiting numbers? If the minister can comment on that.=
Hon. Ms. Frost: I just wanted to make a comment. The member opposite is not used to holding the mobile mic. I have a hard ti= me hearing you because you’re moving the mic around. If you can just spe= ak into the mic, that will be really helpful for me.
Now, we are working with = — again, negotiating with the federal government on the funding for the child= care centres, as I noted. My intention is to ensure that we provide the necessary supports.
We are working with the c= hief medical officer on the childcare centres and ensuring that we actively work with Family and Children’s Services to ensure a safe and careful appr= oach to childcare centres during these times. With children, care and safety is = an utmost priority for all of us.
Childcare centres and par= ents are asked to be vigilant about monitoring their own symptoms and to practise go= od hygiene. We will sit and work with the chief medical officer, looking at working with the 67 childcare centres we have across the Yukon. That is bei= ng monitored very carefully as we speak.
Ms. McLeod: I can appreciate that it is difficult to listen to somebody waving around a microphone and it’s equally diffic= ult for me to speak into it — so I like this arrangement here.
How is the information on= how childcare centres should be managed being relayed to them? Has an official directive gone out from the Department of Health and Social Services or from the chief medical officer?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Just conferring with the staff = here around the chief medical officer’s recommendations. My understanding = is that they are having a meeting with the chief medical officer to speak very specifically about this, and so we will await his instructions. We have sta= ff in Health and Social Services who work with our childcare centres as well. = We ensure that they receive all of the current and pertinent information to en= sure the health and safety — which is on the forefront of everyone’s mind — and that we certainly practise good hygiene and be vigilant ab= out monitoring our own systems and practising frequent handwashing, sanitation,= and all of that.
Ms. McLeod: I just want to stress how important I th= ink it is for this information to be directly relayed to all childcare centres = so that nobody is falling through the cracks and the health and safety of our families is being safeguarded as best as it can be.
I have a question about c= ataract surgery. I know that there has been an infusion of money into the program a= nd we have managed to reduce wait times by some considerable bit. I would like= to know what the wait time is today — right now, this month. Is it six months? Is it a year? The concern is that there are people in the Yukon who= are obviously being denied driver’s licences because they are awaiting th= is surgery. So, it’s a matter of some urgency — if we can update t= hem on how long the wait time is for Yukoners today.
Hon. Ms. Frost: The wait times for cataract sur= gery — I can get that information, but with the specifics on the budget ar= ound cataract surgery — I am just getting the numbers right now, but there= is an increase. As part of year 2 of the plan, Health and Social Services is providing the Yukon Hospital Corporation with $644,000 in funding to ensure Yukoners’ access to ophthalmology services. We are ensuring that they provide that cataract surgery wait times are reduced as process of enhanced supports through the Hospital Corporation.
Ms. McLeod: I look forward to getting that informati= on from the minister.
Just a question about the= Whistle Bend continuing care facility — it’s my understanding that there’s a provision for a family-led advisory group to work with the staff at the care facility. I’m wondering if this has been set up and= is in operation.
Hon. Ms. Frost: That is still active at the Whi= stle Bend continuing care facility, and we’re ensuring that we have similar supports throughout all of our care facilities.
Ms. McLeod: The group is set up; it’s running; it’s operating. Is it comprised of only family members, or how many s= taff are on that board?
Hon. Ms. Frost: There is one in every home.
Ms. McLeod: In this budget, there is $1 million= for renovations to the Whitehorse shelter. Can the minister tell us about that?=
Hon. Ms. Frost: The funding identified — = the $1 million — for the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter is to do some renovations and retrofits on the exterior of the building. That is being done, of course, through consultation with our community groups, so that is where the fundin= g is going.
Ms. McLeod: Will this work be tendered? I am wonderi= ng when we might expect to see the tender.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes, it is going out for tender= .
Ms. McLeod: In the budget documents, there are proba= bly more than two line items for the Whitehorse Emer= gency Shelter. Can the minister tell us what this year’s operating expenses= are for the Whitehorse shelter?
Hon. Ms. Frost: What was in the mains in the 20= 19‑20 was $1,000,200 and that was a reflection of when we took over the facility = and the lack of program service supports. That increase in 2019‑20 mains = of $2,361,000, for a total of $3,561,000 — that covers personnel and pro= gram supports there.
Ms. McLeod: I have a few questions about 22 Wann Road. Can the minister confirm the date that you= th began moving into the home and a little bit about how many youths are in the home and when it’s expected to be at capacity?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The day programming for the facility is fully operational. We’ve identified three individuals who will be moving in very shortly. The day programming has been in operation f= or quite a bit of time now.
Ms. McLeod: Can the minister define “shortly”?
Hon. Ms. Frost: That’s happening this mon= th.
Ms. McLeod: When we talk about a day program operati= ng at that facility, where would one find out about the programs that are available, how they can be accessed, and who they apply to?
Hon. Ms. Frost: With respect to the budget for = the transitional support program, we’ve provided the resources in the bud= get to ensure that we work very closely with our staff to ensure that we have support programming for youth to engage on a daily basis. We have the day programming, we have the transition units for the older youth, and then we = have some more controlled programming for youth who are younger, allowing for mo= re family interaction as we indicated in our submission.
Ms. McLeod: Thanks for the clarification on the prog= rams that are being operated, but I wanted to know how people — citizens — find out more about the program.
For instance, where will = they find the information on how to access the program? Who qualifies to partici= pate in the program? If I was a parent and was looking for some help for a child, where am I going to find that?
Hon. Ms. Frost: With the questions around the sharing of information, I am happy to respond to that sharing of information with the specifics around the budget. We do have the resources in the budge= t to provide the support — the staff complement for ensuring that the chil= dren are, of course, engaged in the process and are aware that these services are available to them. We do that through Family and Children’s Services. Every child within the care of government or who is in our community who ne= eds supports can access the services offered in situ at day programming.
Ms. McLeod: I understand then that you need to go through Family and Children’s Services if you want to access programm= ing at 22 Wann Road.
There were some renovatio= ns being done to the facility. I think it was fencing. Are the renovations completed? Maybe, as an aside, is the fencing done?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The renovations began on that f= acility because we identified a need for this service in the Yukon. The in situ program offered out of the facility on Wann Road is intended to provide supports and service= s to those young folks who wouldn’t be able to access programming elsewher= e. It is day programming. The renovations were completed. We are offering serv= ices on a daily basis. We have individuals in the coming days who are moving in.= We are very pleased about that and just want to commend the staff for doing su= ch a great job in getting that facility up and running to provide these much-nee= ded services to our young people.
Ms. McLeod: I didn’t quite get a clarification= on whether or not the renovation was the fencing, but I will let the minister = get back to me on that.
I am wondering what the O= &M is for one year at 22 Wann Road.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I’m not prepared to answe= r a question about when the fencing is going in or if it’s not going in. I think the objective is to ensure that we provide safe, appropriate faciliti= es for our young people. The O&M expenditures for the facility — I w= ill endeavour to get that information to the member opposite. At this moment, I don’t have it at my fingertips, but I would be happy to provide that.=
Ms. McLeod: I wasn’t questioning the need for fencing. I guess I’m unclear as to whether the renovations were the fencing and, if the renovations are done, it might, by extension, mean that= the fencing is done. That’s all I’m trying to establish.
I didn’t get the O&= amp;M cost, but I’m not sure if the minister said she would get back to me = with that or not, but if she can clarify that the next time she’s up, that would be great.
I have a couple of questi= ons about the new services that are being offered at the Watson Lake and Dawson City community hospitals. Of course, it was great news to hear that ultraso= und services were going to be offered in those two communities. That’s qu= ite a relief for those rural Yukoners who do not have to travel to Whitehorse to get that service.
I’m wondering, thou= gh, a couple of things: What is the annual cost to provide those services? How fu= lly subscribed to is it? I mean, is it being utilized to its fullest capability= ? Is it a travelling service, or is it available seven days a week, more or less= ?
Hon. Ms. Frost: It’s a total of $60,000 — $30,000 per community.
Ms. McLeod: Does the minister know whether or not the programs are fully subscribed to or what the uptake has been?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t have that informa= tion in front of me.
Ms. McLeod: I’m just going to wrap up here sho= rtly to give the Third Party an opportunity to participate in this discussion, b= ut I have a question about medical travel.
Given COVID‑19 and the need to stay home and whatnot, how are rural medical needs being met when a specialist is required?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I= would be happy to provide that information to the member opposite — what wa= s in this year’s budget compared to last year. The medical travel is being reviewed currently under the comprehensive health review — noting tha= t we do provide services and supports continuously to Yukoners for medical trave= l in and out of the Yukon and internal to the Yukon.
Ms. McLeod: How is all= this travel being affected by COVID‑19?
Hon. Ms. Frost: W= ell, that is evolving, Mr. Chair. We have very competent staff who are trac= king all of the pressures that we are seeing right now. In the coming days as th= ings ramp up here in the Yukon, we want to ensure that we provide all necessary supports to Yukoners. We will continue to do that in good faith. We certain= ly don’t have that number, and we would not have that number as of today, nor would we have it in a week. We would continue to track and monitor as we see COVID‑19 — we currently have zero cases in Yukon. If and wh= en we do, we may see pressures, and when we do, we will manage appropriately.<= /span>
Ms. McLeod: I want to = thank the officials for helping us out here today in our debate. I’m going = to turn it over at this time to my colleague.
Ms. White: Just before= I get started today, I just wanted to make sure that I welcomed and thanked the officials from the Department of Health and Social Services. I can only ima= gine what the rest of your days look like right now.
Before I begin my questions, I just want to express my gratitude and, at that same time, my disappointment for anyone who has to be at work. My gratitude to t= he many public servants, the Health and Social Services workers, those who work within Yukon government, Yukon hospitals and health care centres, and the non-governmental organizations who all, in the normal course of things, wor= k in challenging times, but right now, it’s beyond that.
To be clear, these are not normal times, and all involved in working together = to respond to the COVID‑19 pandemic have our enduring support and admiration. Equally, Mr. Chair, I want to express my gratitude to the = staff hidden away in the Hansard office, because while we’re here in this Assembly, we have the luxury of spreading out with some form of social distancing, but the dedicated staff in the Hansard office, who have faithfu= lly recorded the proceedings of this Assembly, are forced to work in a cramped space without the luxury of our social distancing and the pressure.<= /p>
I just want to make sure that I acknowledge the hard work done by public serv= ants and the appreciation that we have for the work that they’re doing.
My first question for the minister is: What has the Department of Health and Social Services determined as essential services during the pandemic?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I= am just seeking some clarification around the business continuity plan for Hea= lth and Social Services as we look at our health plan, defining what constitutes essential services. The department is working very closely on identifying essential services — group homes, hospitals, nurses, continuing care — all of the essential services that are required to ensure that we provide appropriate health care for all Yukoners.
Ms. White: So, in the = list that was just given — but when we look at the department in a broad stroke, how is the department determining if a position is able to work from home?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I= do believe that we’ve responded to this question previously during Quest= ion Period, but Highways and Public Works, the Public Service Commission —= ; every department is working very closely through the deputy minister’s offi= ce and through our HR complement to ensure that we have the supports necessary= to allow our staff to work from home and still provide supports. That is somet= hing that is done through each department.
I’m very happy with where we are right now — ensuring that staff are supp= orted. They have the resources available to them, and that’s kind of where we are right now.
Ms. White: So, within = the Department of Health and Social Services, how many applications have been handed in with the request to work from home? How many have been approved? = How many have been denied? How many have yet to be processed?
Hon. Ms. Frost: R= ight now, the mandate or the direction has gone out to the ADMs. By virtue = of that, they work with the directors and their human resource directors to en= sure that we identify and work very closely with our staff. We will continue to = do that through this crisis that we find ourselves in. Of course, we are certa= inly wanting to ensure that we will work with every individual who presents to safely work from home.
Ms. White: My question= was: How many employees so far have made that request? How many have been accept= ed? How many have been denied?
Hon. Ms. Frost: S= pecific to the budget, I can’t answer that right now. I think those are very specific questions that the member opposite is asking about. How many individuals? That changes on a regular basis. I don’t have that information, and I won’t have that information today, nor will I have= it tomorrow. We will work with our department. We will work with Highways and Public Works and with the Public Service Commission.
The majority of the staff provide direct services or will provide services and = will work from home. The application process is changing. We will ensure that we consider all the applications that we receive and support the staff to work from home.
Ms. White: Just to be = clear, we have been told over and over again that this budget does affect the COVI= D‑19 pandemic, and it has yet to be explained to me exactly how. Having the minister’s assurances and telling me that the questions aren’t related to the budget — I believe that they are. That is the reason w= hy I was asking, and that’s fine.
One of the things is that we have asked about getting briefings from the chief medical officer of health or their office. One of the reasons to get the briefings is so that we are up to date with information. You can imagine the surprise when opposition members found out about a respiratory assessment centre that will be opened at the Yukon Convention Centre via a press relea= se. Maybe the minister can tell me more about the new respiratory assessment ce= ntre that will open at the Yukon Convention Centre.
Hon. Ms. Frost: W= ith respect to COVID‑19, as we work to set up the assessment centre and ensure that we provide support to all our communities, the costs associated= are being considered. I just want to thank our ADM of Corporate Services for do= ing such an amazing job in accumulating and acquiring — and keeping really great track of all of the pressures that we are seeing right now. The budget that we speak of today is the budget to keep the government and Health and Social Services flowing smoothly. That includes ensuring that we have fundi= ng supports for our shelters, our long-term care facilities, our hospitals, Fa= mily and Children’s Services, home care — everything that is in the budget is intended to get us through the year.
If there are additional pressures, we are tracking that and doing the assessme= nts as they come in.
With regard to briefings, my understanding is that the chief medical officer was= not able to provide the briefing to the members opposite. As they can imagine, = he is extremely busy, and we are attempting to set that up to ensure that they= get the briefings that they require.
Things are moving quickly. The clinic and logistics will be in place at the assess= ment centre. That announcement is ours to make. We are working with Community Services to ensure that we provide in-time supports to Yukoners. It’s= not something that is negotiable; it is something that is necessary.
Ms. White: Just to be clear, the press release went = out. It says, “Respiratory assessment centre to open at Yukon Convention Centre”. It’s dated March 19, 2020. I’m asking questions about this. I imagine that part of this is underneath the responsibility of= the Department of Health and Social Services, therefore, the Minister of Health= and Social Services. I’m just asking for some details. Could I get some details about the respiratory assessment centre please — details that= can be shared with the general public, information that can be listened to right now from the radio? Could the minister share with me, please, the details a= bout the respiratory assessment centre that was announced today via press releas= e?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The respiratory assessment cent= re — the discussions began earlier in the week. The assessment centre is= set up to provide supports in response to COVID‑19. We have the new clinic identified through the Yukon Convention Centre. Again, I want to just ackno= wledge the Northern Vision Development group for providing us with the resources a= nd the space to ensure that we provide support to do the testing at that centr= e.
The funding is not identi= fied in this budget because this is a new pressure, so the budget was built, design= ed, and written and identified resources prior to this happening. We are workin= g to determine all of the pressures and the assessments are being done by our te= am at Health and Social Services and through all the departments to track and = assess and to put that request forward to ensure that we get appropriate resources from the federal government to offset those costs.
In the meanwhile, we are = going ahead to fund and finance the assessment centre and any other supports we require to ensure that we provide appropriate help and clinical support to = all Yukoners throughout the Yukon. We want to just — we are working throu= gh the details of that. The press release went out, and I would be happy to sp= eak more about that once we have an opportunity to speak more to Yukoners about that.
Ms. White: Just to be clear, when the minister says = that she’s happy to speak to it when she has a chance to speak more to Yukoners, does that mean that, if I ask more questions right now, there wil= l be no answers forthcoming, because there needs to be a press release or an announcement before I can ask these questions?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The specific details of what is happening at the assessment centre are currently being worked out through t= he various means through our chief medical officer and health professionals. T= his is something that they requested, because they wanted a secure facility and secure site to ensure protection and control of the spread of COVID‑1= 9.
The specifics around what= is involved or how that works and functions are not something that I can respo= nd to here on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. I will work to get more specific details with the physicians and the nurses who are on the ground t= here and also around the functionality of that and disperse that information out very broadly and very quickly. That just happened this afternoon, but there= is certainly more to come. As soon as more information comes available, we will share that on the website through social media and through every means poss= ible to direct Yukoners to this new facility.
Ms. White: I appreciate that answer. There was more information there than the first time, and that is what I was just looking = for. How is that information going to be shared out? It is going to be through social media — I appreciate that. I didn’t expect the minister = to be able to tell me the ins and outs — as we in this Chamber are not medical professionals — but I was looking for more answers, so I appreciate that I got those.
Knowing that COVID‑= 19 is often — some of the symptoms are respiratory — will Yukon have a respiratory therapist brought in to be staff during this pandemic time?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Certainly, I will take the advi= ce of the medical professionals, and if there are additional resources require= d, we are working with our contractor and bringing in agency staff. We are workin= g on virtual supports as well and working with our physicians. So, we will work = with our chief medical officer and the professionals to identify what further supports they require.
Ms. White: I don’t know a lot, but I’m pretty confident that a respiratory therapist needs to be physically presen= t in order for them to be able to support what is happening. I’m glad to k= now that if the request is made, and that is a critical position that needs to = be filled. I am relieved to know that the department will look at that, as required.
I have some questions abo= ut the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. Some of the questions that I have right now — it is just trying to understand more. I was told the greatest piece= of advice about the emergency shelter by someone who was a front-line worker, = and they said: “Look, it can’t be all things to all people.” =
The reason why I’m = bringing that up is because, really, one physical space can’t be all things to= all people, unless it was a really, really, really, really large physical space — and by that, I mean the size of a community. It can’t be all things to all people.
So, I wanted to know answ= ers to some pretty simple questions about the emergency shelter. I want to know who the emergency shelter serves. Who is the client? What is the emergency shelter’s mission statement? What’s the strategic plan? Is the = plan for Yukon government to run it forever? Is there a plan to try to get it transferred to NGOs?
So, those are the questio= ns: Who does it serve? Who are the clients? What’s the mission statement? What’s the strategic plan?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Was there another specific question? Was I hearing another question?
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Hon. Ms. Frost: Okay. So, the Whitehorse Emerge= ncy Shelter is responsible for the shelter facility as the member opposite is aware. It’s a new endeavour for the Government of Yukon. We are worki= ng — and we have been since the beginning — with our community partners in ensuring that the range of initiatives that we provide at the shelter meets the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.
Some of the short-term ac= tions we’re taking are really just to ensure that we provide balanced suppo= rt through mental wellness, social supports, and health supports. We brought s= ome of those broader community supports into the shelter and we will continue t= o do that.
With respect to a mission statement, the shelter does not have — given the department and this = new initiative, we have now, in this budget, secured the permanent positions for the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter to carry us through for a period of time u= ntil we can work with our NGO community to eventually take over the facility. At this point in time, we’ve gone out and we didn’t get the suppor= t, so we will continue to work with our partners in our communities. That is always the objective — to look at being as open as we possibly can. If someone should come forward from the NGO community who wants to participate — say in the kitchen, as an example, or the shelter — well, that option is always open.
Ms. White: The reason why I asked about a mission statement is that mission statements are like guiding principles. The reason why I’m asking for a specific mission statement for the emergency she= lter is that, in the response that the minister just gave me — I mean, I appreciate what was involved, but — so, my question is: Is the emerge= ncy shelter a sobering centre? Is it an emergency shelter? Do they deal with ha= rm reduction? What population does the shelter serve? Is it about sobering? Is= it a sobering centre? Is it an emergency shelter? What does the shelter do? Wh= at is their mission statement?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I do want to bring us back to t= he budget for the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. What do we have currently in t= he budget to provide supports to the shelter to ensure that we expand the scop= e of practice? What I can make note of and say is that the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter now is supported by Justice. It is supported by Community Services, Highways and Public Works, and, of course, Health and Social Services. The collaboration around that and the multi-sector community that participates = in the centre is to ensure that we provide appropriate services and supports.<= /p>
Again, I’m not goin= g to speak specifically to a mission statement. Perhaps there will be one identi= fied in the future. At this moment in time, we are working with our partners to ensure that we provide the necessary budget supports to the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.
Right now in the budget, we have $2,361,000, plus the $1.2 million that existed previously and was given to the Salvation Army, for a total of $3,446,000 to provide shelter, emergency supports, and programming supports to the clients who frequent the shelter.
Ms. White: The reason that I am asking the questions= is that the $3.5 million earmarked for the shelter — there are prog= rams associated with that, there are efforts, and there are ideas. Is it a sober= ing centre, or is it an emergency shelter?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The question was: Is it a sober= ing centre? The Whitehorse Emergency Shelter provides diverse sets of supports, services, and programs. There’s an AA program run from there, we have= two paramedics in there, we provide health care, we provide life-skills trainin= g, we provide food services, we provide shelter services, and we provide housi= ng services. So, there are a multitude of different supports, based on the principle of harm reduction. We do not turn anyone away. We provide support= s to the majority of individuals, unless they present as being unsafe or harming others. There may be circumstances where we have them removed from the facility, but those are extenuating circumstances.
The objective is harm red= uction principles, ensuring that they are never turned away and are given all the supports that they require.
Ms. White: Is it run as a zero-barrier shelter or as= a low-barrier shelter?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I’m not sure of the line = of questioning. The member opposite knows it was designed as a low-barrier shelter. Was it = that before? Probably not, but our objective is to ensure that we provide suppor= ts through the budget for the Housing First initiatives — so those who a= re medium acuity and those who are high acuity — we have supports for individuals where they are within the community, regardless of whether it’s a low- or high-barrier shelter. We try to ensure that supports a= re in place for the individuals as they present to Health and Social Services.=
Ms. White: The reason why I asked the question ̵= 2; is it zero barrier or low barrier? — is the fact that you can actually put behavioural expectations on folks. If we’re saying that it’s low barrier, you can have rules. You can have expectations, and you can ask people to meet those.
The minister might shrug = off the question, but the reason is that I fundamentally believe — especially based on conversations with NGOs who deal with populations who are often in rough spots — that you can set behavioural expectations.
So, when I asked the ques= tion of whether it’s zero barrier or low barrier, it was for that reason. The= re was a distinct reason for it.
I wanted to know if, at t= he shelter, they are doing harm reduction work. By that, I mean, are they offe= ring a needle exchange?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The expectations — as individual citizens who come to use the facility — there are rules in place. Of course, behavioural expectations are essential. Those are some of= the principles with which we govern. We want to ensure that it is a low-barrier shelter and provides supports. Part of that is ensuring that we have a need= le exchange program. We have a great partnership with Blood Ties Four Directio= ns. They provide the exchange program. When they are not available, we offer th= at service to the shelter as well.
Ms. White: One of the reasons why I’m asking if there is a needle exchange run out of the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter is because it seems like, from the outside looking in, it is a replication of services. I say this because harm reduction and the equipment that is requi= red is already — Blood Ties is already the expert. They have been doing it for 40 years. Blood Ties also has federal funding to run a satellite clinic= , as required.
My question about the nee= dle exchange is: Is that happening between the hours that Blood Ties is open, or are needles only being exchanged and handed out when Blood Ties is not available or the outreach van is not available?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The objective is to use the ser= vice that is available through Blood Ties. In the event that they are not availa= ble, we do provide the service through the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter.
Ms. White: One of the severe things — and the reason why needle exchange programs require the level of training that they= do — is the level of risk. I know, for example, that hepatitis C can live outside the body for 72 hours and HIV for a much shorter amount of time = 212; something like three hours. Have there ever been any incidents at the shelt= er — a needle prick, for example?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I can’t answer that quest= ion. With specifics to the budget that we are debating today, the services and programs that we provide for the clients at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter — we have identified $3.46 million in the budget to provide prog= ram service supports. We try to ensure that it is flexible enough to provide the services.
With regard to the needle exchange and the future, that will evolve as the shelter evolves.
Ms. White: $3.5 million — that would cover things like a needle exchange program being run out of the Whitehorse Emerg= ency Shelter. I think, if the minister was to take a look and have a conversation with the officials within the department, the answer would be that there wa= s a serious incident in the last 12 calendar months; there was a needle prick. The reas= on I bring this up is because an operation like Blood Ties, which specializes in harm reduction, has not had any for more than a decade. It’s somethin= g to consider as to whether or not we replicate those services.
Mr. Chair, just movi= ng on — actually no, not moving on yet. A question today in Question Period was: How are we making sure that both the clients who access the emergency shelter and the staff who work there are safe? So, again, we have talked ab= out how our social distancing at the Chamber is two metres. What is being done = or what measures have been put in place at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter in this time to keep the clients and the staff there safe?
Hon. Ms. Frost: As we look at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter and we look at the clients coming and going — being that social distancing and hygiene is important to all of us — someti= mes the individuals who reside at the shelter or who frequent the shelter may n= ot have that ability. So, we want to ensure that we provide necessary supports at t= he Whitehorse Emergency Shelter. We are working under the advice of the chief medical officer and ensuring that we have the measures in place at the shel= ter to protect the clients who frequent the shelter. That means the kitchen and= how we serve food is a good example. The checking in and out of clients coming = in — those who present as having some symptoms will be quarantined or ca= n be quarantined with the necessary medical supports around them so that they ca= n be appropriately supported.
Ms. White: If a client presents at the shelter and is exhibiting symptoms, where will they be safely quarantined or cared for?
Hon. Ms. Frost: We have a number of options. We have a health preparedness plan for the Yukon. We also have a community preparedness plan that we worked with Community Services on. All the departments are working around the clock to ensure that every Yukoner is protected and that we have the necessary quarantine facilities available. We are currently working on that right now, as we speak, and ensuring that we = have appropriate spaces available to us in the city, but we also need to ensure = that we provide that support in our communities.
Recognizing that the ques= tion is specific to the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter, we have secured the rooms that are available on the very top floor, and it is being assessed through our c= hief medical officer, and the plans are being implemented around where we can sa= fely quarantine individuals, should they present with symptoms.
Ms. White: I guess then there is a benefit to those housing units having been empty underneath the government for such a long t= ime; now they can be used for something else. I guess that is a benefit.
I am just looking for clarification here. Was it through the Department of Health and Social Serv= ices that the housing emergency support line was funded?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I am not specifically clear on = the question around the housing support line. I do know that we have housing navigators. We have supports through our income support office and we have supports through our various departments — so I don’t know the specific answer to that question. If the member opposite could be a little clearer, perhaps I can respond to the question and find the notes with resp= ect to identifying the supports in the budget, specific to the question.
Ms. White: The housing emergency line was run by Victoria Faulkner, FASSY, and Blood Ties Four Directions together. It was a 24-hour support line that could be accessed by clients or landlords in tryi= ng to keep people housed. I am unsure if the funding was through the Departmen= t of Health and Social Services or elsewhere, and I am just looking for that clarification.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t have the answer, = but I will endeavour to get the information that the member opposite is seeking= and collaborate with the Women’s Directorate to see where that’s at= .
Ms. White: The unfortunate truth is that it has been cut. I just didn’t know what department it came from. The unfortunate truth is that it was a line that was definitely utilized and it has been credited with keeping at least two people housed for the last year, which is important.
Moving on to the Housing = First project: How many residents are currently residing at the Housing First project?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Can I just ask the member oppos= ite to — I didn’t catch the last question. If she can just please s= tate it again and I will listen more intently this time.
Ms. White: I was just asking how many residents there are at the Housing First facility.
Hon. Ms. Frost: We have eight individuals there= .
Ms. White: When asked at a briefing, we were told th= ere were nine. Has there been a change since the briefing?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I believe so, yes.
There are a number of ind= ividuals who have been approved to move in and some choose not to. When the informat= ion went out, that’s what the numbers were being based on.
Ms. White: How many staff work the daytime hours at = the Housing First facility? What hours are those? Are we talking between 8:00 a= nd 4:00, 9:00 and 5:00, or 8:30 and 4:30? How many folks work there during the day?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The question about staffing, th= ere are currently — in the budget for this year for the Whitehorse — the Housing First project, there is $604,000 in the budget to provide suppo= rts to people living there who are medium-acuity clients, and this $604,000 cov= ers the staff.
Currently, we have two st= aff who work during the day, and then we have one who works overnight. We are always ensuring that there are supports in place for the clients, but also what’s important to note is that we have supports through our social supports network and through Health and Social Services for the clients. We have not only the individuals who are physically in the space there providi= ng supports, we have supports through Health and Social Services, through our income support offices as well, and through the housing navigators. We also have additional supports through the Yukon Housing Corporation. There are always wraparound supports to ensure that the individual is successful.
Ms. White: Are those wraparound supports available a= fter 5:00 p.m.?
Hon. Ms. Frost: A very exciting initiative in t= he Yukon — we have never seen a Housing First project like this. As we provide services and supports to the clients, we want to ensure that they h= ave the supports they need 24 hours a day, when they need them. Therefore, when= we look at all of the supports that we have available in Health and Social Services, in our community, we’re very proud of the modern progressive approach that we have taken to ensure that the housing needs of individuals= are met and that they are successful.
We want to make sure that= the tenants are successful in their forever home so they choose it to be their forever home. We will ensure that they have the supports available to them.=
Ms. White: What I’m trying to get to is whethe= r or not there is more than one nighttime staff member. The reason I ask is that= my understanding is that, for best practices across the country, you don’= ;t actually have a one staff ratio to that number of clients. Is there a willingness to look at bringing in a second staff member on the night shift= s at the Housing First facility?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The department has worked on the staff complement. Of course, safety is always in the forefront of our minds= as we look at our staff, but we also need to ensure that the clients are succe= ssful. Those assessments have been considered.
Ms. White: I’m just going to put in the plug t= hat, if something goes sideways in that building and someone is in crisis — or, heaven forbid, something is happening to multiple people with multiple people in crisis — I can’t imagine having one person having to = try to not only deal with that, but then to be able to debrief or be able to ta= lk it out after. I am putting it in the pitch that it would be great to make s= ure that this is more adequately staffed at night to make sure that the staff a= re supported.
Maybe I will let the mini= ster respond to that before I ask the next question.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Given that this is a permanent housing facility for the clients who choose to rent the apartments, this is= not a group-home-type setting where we require — always — supports = for the clients. We have measures in place and prohibitions in place to ensure = that: (1) the staff are staffed; and (2) we provide supports and services to the individuals who choose to rent the apartments in the Housing First facility= . We have protocols in place. We want to ensure that everyone is safe and that i= t is a successful initiative. Certainly, we will take the recommendations under advisement.
Ms. White: How many social workers are on staff at t= he Department of Health and Social Services?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t have that in fron= t of me, but within the budget, we have incorporated additional supports for community social workers which we haven’t had previously, so you will= see a bump from previous years.
So, I don’t have th= at specific number. I don’t know how many social workers are on staff, b= ut I will be happy to look at providing a little more support on that. We have social workers in all sectors of our departments, such as Continuing Care, support networks in the communities, and supports through Health Services, through our Family and Children’s Services, through Continuing Care — multiple departments have social workers. Of course, the hospital h= as social workers as well. We provide a lot. Where they are and how many — I can certainly endeavour to get that information.
Ms. White: I look forward to getting that answer.
The next question I have = about social workers is: What is the turnover? It’s a highly stressful job. There is lots going on, so what kind of turnover is there for social worker= s?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t know the answer. Specific to the funding and the resources that we provide — like everything else, it’s a high turnover. Perhaps that’s the observation of the member opposite. I don’t know that this is the cas= e, but we certainly ensure that we provide supports through employee assistance and through other means so that we are successful — so that the staff= we have in place are successful. I’m not sure that I have specific answe= rs to that question.
Ms. White: The minister is right. From my understand= ing, the turnover of social workers is quite high. If, for example, we were talk= ing about a smaller human who lives in foster care, how many social workers does the minister believe the average kid should have in a year? How many social workers should one child within the care system see in a year?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I’m not sure what that li= ne of questioning is about or what that has to do with the budget, but if there’s a specific question about the budget and the funding that we = have available in the budget to respond, I would be happy to do that.
The question is very spec= ific around how many social workers we have, the ratio — I can’t res= pond to that very specific question, but there are protocols established for sup= ports and ratios, as the member opposite was trying to get at earlier, under the Housing First file.
I’m not sure what t= he purpose of the question is and how it then relates to the budget. As we go ahead and look at the budget and supports available to meet the clients whe= re they are, there will be times when we require more supports for a child, mo= re supports for a different client, and we have responsibilities for the Child Development Centre as well. I’m sure that the member opposite may wan= t to ask about that. Every child is different — and their unique needs are being met — and that means that the ratio may fluctuate.
Chair: Do members wish to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Committee of the Whole will recess for 10 minutes.=
Recess
Deputy Chair (Mr. Adel): Committee of the Whole will=
now
come to order. The matter before the Committee is general debate on Vote 15,
Department of Health and Social Services, in Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21.=
Is there any further gene= ral debate?
Ms. White: Just before we left off, we were talking about the number of social workers within the Department of Health and Soci= al Services. The minister asked why that was relevant to the budget. My answer= is that the money for those social workers is contained in the budget. The bud= get pays those social workers.
When I was asking about t= he acceptable number of social workers per child — here is a real-world example: Is it acceptable that one child have upwards of seven social worke= rs in a two-year span? When I say “social workers”, I am talking a= bout social workers who are specific to that child and are supporting them throu= gh their circumstances. Seven in a two-year span — is that an acceptable number?
Hon. Ms. Frost: As noted by the member opposite, the budget pays for social workers. The budget pays for many things, and the objective here is for us to get to the specifics of the budget.
The question around seven= social workers in a two-year span for one child — I can’t answer that specific question. If there is a relevant question to the budget, specific,= I would be happy to respond to that.
The member opposite may f= ind it humorous, but what I indicted earlier is that there are specific needs of children in different capacities throughout the government and we will ensu= re that the child is supported. If there is a concern, then we would be happy = to work with our members of Yukon to address a specific concern that should co= me up; we would be happy to address that — but specifics to the budget, specifics to how many social workers we have — we certainly have resources available in the budget to provide support. Every Yukon community= now has a social worker, which we didn’t have previously. We now have supports throughout all of our facilities and all of our departments to pro= vide the necessary supports — a lot of them are social workers. I certainly want to ensure that we have resources available to cover that.
Ms. White: I think that what the minister is referri= ng to is the complete shock that I voiced with one of her answers, and I say t= his in terms of — if we want to talk about the budget and we want to talk about the Department of Health and Social Services — the programs that are funded through the Department of Health and Social Services are relevan= t. When I am asking about social workers, I am actually talking about social workers in relation to children. To me, that actually is worthy of discussi= on. When I’m talking about if is it acceptable — the high turnover = of social workers for one child — it is because in the Family and Children’s Services branch, in my understanding, the practice is supp= osed to be based on trauma-informed care.
So, maybe I will ask that question: Is the practice at the Family and Children’s Services branch — is it trauma-informed care that they practise?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes.
Ms. White: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Chair. So, if = it is trauma-informed care that is practised at that branch, in that specific branch, then relationship-building is very important — building a rel= ationship with a child so that you are trusted is important.
So, when I used the examp= le of seven social workers in two years’ time, that is not trauma-informed care. That is building up a trust with a child and then breaking that trust with a child. There is another example: I can say that — I know, in o= ne instance, there was one child in a two-month span who had nine social worke= rs who they spoke to — nine — including people who had no idea abo= ut them at all. This young person was supposed to open up and share each and e= very time.
So, the reason why I am a= sking about the turnover and the statistics and the numbers of social workers is because I think that it is relevant because, when we are talking about a bu= dget the size of the Department of Health and Social Services, it also affects programs. So, that is big and that is why I am asking the question.
One of the things that is included in the performance plan under Yukon indicators — it says children and youth in continuing custody of the director has decreased by 4= 9 percent — it says from 142 in March 2018 to 73 in March 2019. I want to know: Where did all those kids go?
If that kind of number is decreasing, where are those children now?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Of course, it’s important, when we look at the relationships with all of our children and all of our families ensuring, through Family and Children’s Services, that we provide appropriate services and supports — as I took office and I was given this very special mandate to ensure that we provide support to Family= and Children’s Services across the Yukon, we had almost 400 children in c= are. The number has decreased significantly. Why is that? It is because we have worked very closely with our communities; we have worked at systemic change= s; we have worked with our First Nation communities. We have extended family c= are agreements now in place that allow really embracing the children’s ne= eds where they are and ensuring cultural integrity and that decisions are made = to best align with the needs of the child.
We have taken the recomme= ndations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission — the MMIWG. We have tak= en a lot of initiatives to ensure Child = and Family Services Act implementation and the review of the act to ensure = that we are essentially looking at services for our children. We have over 149 recommendations that we are taking into consideration and growing discussio= ns with our communities, with our First Nation governments, and different approaches to delivering child welfare and supports throughout the Yukon.= p>
Recently, we had further discussions around Bill C-92 and how that will be implemented. So, there is lots of really great work happening in the Yukon. If there’s one spec= ific case historically where a child, over the course of two years, had seven so= cial workers — well, that is problematic, for sure. I’m not denying that. What I am looking for is to ensure that we have addressed the systemic barriers and issues of indigenous children that we have seen historically. = The number the member opposite — it’s not common practice in the Yu= kon. It’s certainly not common practice — and if it is, then it̵= 7;s something we try to curb and address through a strategic approach in delive= ring family and children’s services.
As of October, we had 133 children living in extended family care agreements. That’s unpreceden= ted. It’s unprecedented because the children are now safely put back into their communities with their extended families, living lives of cultural integrity with their grandparents, aunties, and their uncles. That is a huge initiative. I want to just commend the department for doing a really great = job in that. I also acknowledge the communities for reducing the children we ha= ve in care. The ones who we do have in care and who require specialized suppor= ts — we will ensure that there is the necessary complement of staff available to support those children.
Ms. White: What kind of auditing happens within the department? So, case files — things like that. How does the department look into, on a case-by-case basis, whether or not the department is meeting the requirements of those children?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Great question. As we move into this role here as the government — as the Liberal government — = we had some major issues, certainly, with Family and Children’s Services around children in care, around the services and supports they were being g= iven or not given. So, lots of growing discussions around different approaches in delivering child welfare support services throughout the Yukon, so huge opportunities for systemic changes. We’ve undertaken that by going through the Child and Youth Advocate office into the review there.
We’ve had the Costa= nza report that really looked at some of the systemic issues and we’ve now triggered the Child and Family Serv= ices Act. We had an independent body that travelled across the Yukon to seek some feedback on the services we provided and which provided us with a lot = of recommendations that we will then take under advisement and ensure that we provide supports. So, there are a lot of quality assurances in place and protocols in place, and everything that we do is really about ensuring that= we provide services. We’re constantly looking at the internal review pro= cess and looking at efficiencies. We now have a further initiative with Kwanlin Dün, for example.
We have a facility there,= and we are working with them to ensure that their children are supported. No longer are we being kicked out of the communities, but we are being embraced to wo= rk with the communities through the various quality assurance processes that we have established and the relationships that we have established. We do that= at a minimum, I understand — every two years, an internal review is done, and we always look for efficiencies. We are looking for improvements.
Ms. White: It was my understanding that, last year, a person was hired to do the early learning framework for the Department of Health and Social Services. It is also my understanding that this was suppo= sed to be finished in the summertime, but an extension had been granted until December. Can the minister tell me the status of the early learning framewo= rk?
Hon. Ms. Frost: That work has been done.
Ms. White: Is that publicly available?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I can’t answer that quest= ion specifically, but I will endeavour to get the answer for the member.
Ms. White: My understanding is that this was just to= develop the framework, but there was no implementation plan required with that. Is there money in this year’s budget to create an implementation plan fo= r an early learning framework in Yukon?
Hon. Ms. Frost: The curriculum framework, or the licensed process, is shared with the Department of Education. I am not sure= at this moment in time of the cost or where it is. I will certainly endeavour = to get back to the member opposite with that information.
Ms. White: I would appreciate getting that informati= on back. I will ask when I have the chance in Education. That is an example of something that could be included in this budget — but not necessarily= as a line item. That is what the questions are for.
Inclusion Yukon had recei= ved money from government to have a respite house. That money has been cut. My question is: Why? What kind of program audit was done before that money was cut?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Perhaps I can ask the member opposite to provide a little more clarity around the respite house and where that was previously located. I don’t seem to have that information. If I’m missing it, then I would certainly work to get that information to her.
Ms. White: Again, I’m not 100‑percent su= re if it’s within the Department of Health and Social Services, although= I imagine that’s where it would be. It was with Inclusion Yukon, and it= was a house that was run, offering respite for families who have adult children with disabilities. I am wanting to know how they reached that. By the action across the way, possibly the deputy minister has that answer.
Hon. Ms. Frost: My apologies for the delay. I am just trying to find the specific information around the respite house. It w= as actually through Inclusion Yukon. The respite home funding was cut, and my understanding is that there was very limited access to the services in this home and that the best option presented was to provide the services for res= pite care elsewhere.
It was done through Social Services with the input of Inclusion Yukon.
Ms. White: If that is the case, where are respite services being offered now for families who have adult children with disabilities?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I am just seeking clarification. Each family is given the resources that they need. Of course, it fluctuates depending on their needs for respite care. The member had specifically asked about supports. That is continued through individual agreements.
Ms. White: How many staffed group homes are there for adults in the territory?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t have that specific number in front of me. I have the information specific to the budget and specific to the briefing notes. I wouldn’t be able to respond to how = many staff we have at a facility. I will endeavour to get that information.
Ms. White: I didn’t ask for the number of staf= f; I asked for the number of group homes for adults. I believe that this is dire= ctly in relation to the budget. I am just looking for the number of adult group homes.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I don’t specifically have that information in front of me. We have homes and supports for all of our clients. We have Options for Independence. We have the facility on Hoge Str= eet — or Hanson Street. We have a number of facilities available. I would= be happy to provide very specific details. At this moment, I don’t have = it in front of me, but I would be happy to provide that.
Ms. White: The reason why I am asking right now about this is because, within the supplementary information under Social Supports= , Disability Services, and Children’s Disability Services, it does talk about the Adult Disability Services caseload. It talks about things like that. One of= the things that we see here is that currently there is cash provided for meals,= and what we see is that the Ledge cafeteria actually does a great deal for their proud clients — in middays, actually, lunches are provided to clients= . So, my question is: With the cafeteria closing, where are these clients going t= o go for that one meal a day, or will that program cease to exist?
Hon. Ms. Frost: There are a number of NGOs that= we work with as well, and the specific question about how many group homes and such — we will get that information. It is very similar in linking it back to the Challenge Disability Resource Group and the supports that they provide to the Bridges Café and the options there. My understanding = is that there are current discussions happening with them around how they are going to support their clients who frequent and work in the Bridges Café. Continuing on with that, once the café closes, that mig= ht mean catering services and some other options that they are considering.
Ms. White: I am not talking about the social enterpr= ise or the work itself. It is that, at any time on any given day, you will see a whole bunch of folks going into the cafeteria who are actually accessing the meal program. So, my question is: What happens to the meal program when the Ledge shuts down? So, the Challenge program that runs the cafeteria that is open — what happens to that meal program when it shuts down?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Challenge made the decision to close, and we are working with them to ensure that the support is there for= the clients, of course.
Ms. White: In the supplementary information under Fa= mily and Children’s Services, early childhood and prevention services, childcare services, it talks about childcare subsidies — approval for= a month is $400. Can I please get a breakdown between Whitehorse and rural for that?
Hon. Ms. Frost: My understanding is that inform= ation is not broken out between Whitehorse and the communities, but I’ll wo= rk on getting that.
Ms. White: I’ll just put in the pitch that it&= #8217;s important to see how many people are accessing the childcare subsidy or how many cases per Whitehorse and rural communities.
One of the things that ha= s been highlighted to us over and over again is that, for people who work in the g= ig economy — so people who work on a contract basis or don’t have regular work — they actually have to apply to the childcare subsidy p= rogram month after month, because their wages will change. I know one thing that happened under this minister was, for example, under her other portfolio, Y= ukon Housing Corporation, they ended up looking at the previous year’s earnings, and that’s how rent was adjusted.
Is there a willingness wi= thin the department to look at the childcare subsidy in a similar way, to be able to look at a person’s previous year’s earnings so that the monthly application — because it’s quite arduous, the application proce= ss — ceases to be a monthly requirement?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I would like to thank the member opposite for the recommendation. That is something we will take under consideration and advisement as we look at the program area. I see now where the member opposite was finding the numbers on the childcare services. We w= ill work to break that apart so it makes a little more sense.
Ms. White: I am still on the supplementary informati= on. Now I’m looking under “Social Supports”, “Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services” — Whitehorse. I would like= to know, under the intensive treatment program, how many offerings — how many women’s programs have been run and how many men’s programs have been run — or are expected to run, I guess, in 2021?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I will go back to the department and find that specific information, but my understanding — and I̵= 7;ll validate this — is that the program is offered now on a 12-month basis and it runs continuously. It rotates between the genders, but I will verify that and get the very specific details for the member opposite — but = it is run all year long. Every month, there is a program being offered.
Ms. White: Under “Social Supports” ̵= 2; “Income Support”, “Employment Training Services”, “Community Outreach Services” — it says “Income Sup= port” and we have both Whitehorse and the region. I would like a breakdown of the numbers — so, the number of adults accessing, the number of seniors, = the number of families, and the number of children who are captured under “Income Support”.
Hon. Ms. Frost: We’ll endeavour to get th= at specific information, of course recognizing that it may be a little challenging. We can get some general data.
Ms. White: The good news is that I won’t need = it soon. If I could have it before October, I would really appreciate that = 212; before we come back in.
The reason why I’m = bringing up social supports, especially income support, is that it’s a good indication of where our community is as far as poverty. It also is reflected almost equally and the numbers of — the increase at the Whitehorse Fo= od Bank. That is the reason why I was looking, especially for the number of children.
I’ve talked a lot i= n the Chamber about my admiration for the HCOS team, or the housing and community outreach services team, and I’m happy to see that in the social suppo= rts, it says that community outreach services — it’s anticipated that there will be an expanded staff capacity. It says, as an example, that an additional social worker will be attached to the program — so, if the minister could just take a minute to talk about the success of community outreach services.
Again, I think it’s important to note that this team didn’t exist before. They are fluid = and flexible. They work on the ground. We have a community outreach nurse who h= as a backpack and sees people where they are at. The housing support team is fantastic. It all started out of the Department of Health and Social Servic= es.
Hon. Ms. Frost: The intention of providing supp= orts to those who are in need is not to address poverty, but to try to provide supports when they need it. Some individuals come to the department for supports that are temporary, right? Or they are having a difficult time this month, but might be successful next month. We have a lot of initiatives in place that support families in ensuring that they are successful by any mea= ns that they come to us. That means that we gauge all applications. We engage = the supports to child enhancements and to our bilateral agreements with our communities. We look at our supports through early learning childcare and, through the direct operating grants and subsidies and so on, we ensure that= we provide those supports. We recognize that we have a growing population, so = the income support pressure is also growing.
I appreciate the question= . The community outreach services we currently have active per month are 75 clien= ts.
Ms. White: One of the highlights in the Budget Addre= ss was talking about ensuring that there was a more collaborative and integrat= ed health care system. It talks about the success of the nurse practitioner in= the community of Mayo. During the very tough Blackjack inquest, there were recommendations made, including having nurse practitioners in communities. = It was about the continuity of care. In the budget, it says that there is a vi= ew to expanding this to other communities such as Carmacks in the coming years. What I want to know is when the intention is to have a nurse practitioner in the community of Carmacks, as recommended in the Blackjack inquest.
Hon. Ms. Frost: To the question, we have a nurse practitioner in Mayo, and the objective is to look at collaborative care throughout our communities. We want to ensure that we provide specialized support throughout the Yukon. Carmacks is next in the queue, not specifical= ly because of the Blackjack inquiry. It came out prior to that in our work with Chief Blackjack around his community wellness plan and the mental health hu= bs there and the continued support for his community. We just want to commend = him for his support but also his diligence in identifying what his community ne= eds are.
This year’s budget = has permanent funding for the nurse practitioner in Mayo, and we are looking at more nurse practitioners across the Yukon. The next in the queue is Carmack= s, and that will happen as we have those discussions with the chief of that community.
Ms. White: I do appreciate that answer and look forw= ard to the time that we have a nurse practitioner in every community because of= the extended scope of practice. I was in this Chamber before we had certified n= urse practitioners and had conversations with those who were losing the skills. = I do look forward to a time when our communities are best served with the Swiss = Army knife of nurses. They can do anything, and it is a big deal.
I am going to move to com= munity hospitals at this point in time. Knowing that we have both the Dawson City hospital and the Watson Lake hospital, I want to know if those community hospitals are ready for the COVID‑19 pandemic as far as staff numbers, equipment, supplies, and, most importantly, testing capabilities.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I would say that, under the leadership of the chief medical officer and management at the Yukon Hospital Corporation, both community hospitals are very ready. We have zero patients= in Dawson City today and two in Watson Lake. We are working with our health centres as well in those communities to ensure that we have the necessary supports.
Ms. White: That is great. I hope that this is indeed= the case.
One of the challenges com= ing out of the communities that has been reflected to us — to me and to, I= 217;m sure, others in opposition — is that communities have been having a h= ard time accessing the information about what is happening.
The last time I looked at= the website of the chief medical officer of health, it was talking about purple heroin, which I don’t disagree with. I think it’s an important thing to talk about.
The minister has said pre= viously that now you can find everything on yukon.ca, but how is information about = COVID‑19 — the request of people to keep social distance and what that looks l= ike and preparedness — getting pushed out into the communities?
Hon. Ms. Frost: There are various means with wh= ich to do that. We are using social media; we have used Facebook; we have used Twitter; we have ads going out in the newspapers. We are working very close= ly with the inter-agency committees. In every one of our communities, we’= ;re working through the health directors within the communities. Every day at 4= :00 p.m, there is a Yukon-wide call that has representati= on from the municipalities and from the First Nation leadership and First Nati= on communities. We have EMO representation from each one of those communities. They participate in the calls.
I would feel confident in= saying that we are getting as much information out as required, and we are working with the communities so that they can have their own community preparedness= plan in place. Participating on that call is Community Services, and Health and Social Services. The chief medical officer is on the call and EMO is on the call specifically to have the discussion on COVID‑19.
Ms. White: One of the concerns that has been highlig= hted in communities — for example, a community like Ross River, which doesn’t have access to a hospital. It doesn’t have a community hospital, and having been contacted by folks there — so the real sens= e in some of those communities is that information is actually not getting out.<= /p>
One of the risks is that,= when people are sharing bad information, it’s worse than sharing no information at all, in my thought. I appreciate that the minister talked ab= out social media, Facebook, and the Internet, but is information being printed = out and put up on bulletin boards or put out in communities that maybe don̵= 7;t have Internet access — not everybody is on the Internet, to be honest= .
Hon. Ms. Frost: The calls every day have representation from the majority of the communities. I had a call in the mi= ddle of last week with the chief medical officer, with every one of the communit= ies participating on the call.
We have now established a= team specifically for community supports, and that has representation, as I identified earlier, from the chief medical officer, Community Services, EMO, and Health and Social Services. That is to work with our communities. Specifically, we work through the inter-agency committee, our health direct= ors, and our registered nurses in the community. We have established the means to get the messages out. We certainly want to make sure that we do this broad = and wide, and ensure that we have posters up and calls are made. Community heal= th centres are getting the information out. We are taking every possible means= to disseminate the information. We will continue to do that as this evolves and ensure that current, in-time information is shared.
Mr. Hassard: I have a couple of questions for the minister regarding NGOs and their year-end financials. So, we understand th= at some of the NGOs have had e‑mails sent to them as recently as to= day and yesterday from the Department of Education, Health and Social Services,= and possibly others asking for their year-end financials.
So, I am wondering if the minister would be amenable to giving the NGOs some type of flexibility, some type of additional allowance, in light of the pandemic that we’re currently dealing with here in the territory.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Absolutely, we will work with t= he NGOs to ensure that they have the resources necessary to continue with their program funding and program supports.
Mr. Hassard: I don’t think the question was necessarily about the resources. It was about allowing them some flexibilit= y in providing or filing those year-end financials.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I believe that the Premier made that abundantly clear — that whatever we have as supports out there — that we will work with our NGO community and all of our communities= to be as flexible as we can during this very difficult time in Yukon.
Mr. Hassard: I have some questions regarding personal protective equipment for health care workers.
As we know, there have be= en issues of shortages across the country, so if the minister could provide us with some information about what the government has done to ensure that our community health centres have enough protective equipment — is the minister able to share some information on the total amount of stock that we have in the Yukon and how long that stock is expected to last.
Hon. Ms. Frost: The Department of Health and So= cial Services is working very closely with the Yukon Hospital Corporation, Emerg= ency Medical Services, and other branches of the Government of Yukon, including Community Services, which is responsible for emergency measure supports. = p>
We do currently have appr= opriate supplies of personal protective equipment. As necessary, we will continue to monitor our stockpile. We are working with the national emergency stockpile system to ensure that we have support and supplies when we need it. That is being monitored regularly. Currently, we have sufficient resources. It is b= eing monitored consistently.
Mr. Hassard: Along those lines, we have seen the glo= bal supply chain in turmoil as a result of this pandemic, with a major shutdown= of pharmaceutical companies in Asia. We have heard reports that supply chains = of prescriptions could be and possibly have been impacted.
Would the minister be abl= e to provide us with some insight on what efforts the Government of Yukon has undertaken to actually protect the supply chain of prescription drugs?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Currently, like every jurisdict= ion, we are working through the federal government to ensure that the supply cha= in is not disrupted in any way, so I can assure the member opposite that, of course, all of that is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. We want to make sure that we have the resources available here in the Yukon.
Mr. Hassard: I’m not sure the minister got that one, but we’ll move on, in light of the time.
With respect to supplies = for the pandemic in our communities, I recently received a picture from the Pelly Crossing Health Centre showing their pandemic supplies, and it’s actu= ally two old cardboard boxes — not very big and not a lot of stock inside those boxes. It is certainly not very reassuring.
Can the minister tell us = what further supplies are available for community health centres? Are all health centres in the Yukon stocked this way? If not, which ones can the minister confirm and assure us are stocked properly?
Hon. Ms. Frost: We do have sufficient supplies,= and I wouldn’t rely on a photograph. I would rely on the supports and the professionalism that’s happening across the Yukon. I want to assure Yukoners that all of the resources are available. Should we run into a challenge, we will ensure that we bring the supports there. We are working = very closely with the Hospital Corporation on the distribution of supplies ̵= 2; personal protective equipment, anything that we need in our health centres.= We also have great staff in the health centres, nurses who have many years of experience who will ensure that we have intact, ongoing preparation for COV= ID‑19. The risk of COVID‑19 is still low in the Yukon. We still have no case= s as of today, which gives us a little breathing room. It gives us flexibility to work with our health professionals, ensuring that we have the necessary supports.
One photograph of a small= area — I would look at the broader picture and look at what’s happen= ing in the communities with the First Nations, with the health centre, with EMO, with Health and Social Services, and with the Hospital Corporation. There i= s a lot of really great work happening, and we are pleased with the effort that’s happening across the Yukon and assure Yukoners that we are tak= ing this very seriously and ensuring that they have the health supports they ne= ed.
Mr. Hassard: I am in the process of sending that pic= ture over to the minister with one of the pages. I appreciate them taking that o= ver, just for the minister’s information.
Moving on — I had s= ome questions regarding testing on COVID‑19. I’m wondering if the minister can tell us how many tests have been administered so far. How many= of those results are yet outstanding?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I wish I knew that, but I don’t. That’s the chief medical officers; there are two. The ch= ief medical officer, Dr. Hanley, is working very closely with our communit= ies around the strategic supports in our communities around pandemic planning. = Dr. Elliot is dealing with the medical side of things and she’s doing all of the really great management. Specifics around how many tests were done, how many responses were back — I can’t answer that question. I wouldn’t endeavour to do that here in this Legislative Assembly, but I will rely on their guidance and their expertise to ensure that Yukon is well prepared and that our communities are well prepared.
When we look at collabora= tion and we look at the efforts, I think that, just a few days ago when the question= was asked about how many tests were sent out — when Dr. Hanley and D= r. Elliot conversed with media — I do believe that they made an indication that there were well over 200 tests sent out. But I will pass the message on and hopefully they can provide some clarity around that.
Mr. Hassard: I’m not sure what kind of clarity= the minister would like me to give on the question. I mean, I asked a simple question: How many tests have been completed? How many of those results are still outstanding?
My understanding is that = the chief medical officer reports to the Minister of Health and Social Services= . My understanding, from the minister herself, is that they have been working ve= ry closely. I would certainly hope that, during the — I’m assuming — daily briefings for the minister from the chief medical officer, she would actually be finding out those exact answers. I would certainly hope t= hat she is taking enough interest in this important scenario that she would actually be asking those questions so that, when the media or the Legislatu= re poses those questions to her, she can actually provide accurate information= .
I think it’s quite = appalling, actually, that the minister would say that she wouldn’t have that information.
I see the officials passi= ng her some information, so maybe I’ll sit down and give her another opportu= nity and see if we can provide a better answer to the Legislature on that one.= p>
Hon. Ms. Frost: Speaking of appalling, I think = the member opposite, sitting in that chair for a number of years — 14 yea= rs, in fact — the members opposite have gone through epidemics like this — H1N1, as an example. We do not have current up-to-date information.= I would not have that information.
My main objective is not = to panic Yukoners but to ensure that we provide the supports to Yukoners. We certain= ly have daily discussions with my deputy minister and with the chief medical officer around resources necessary and available to Yukoners to ensure that every community is supported and ready to deal with the pandemic, should it come here to the Yukon. Sending a photograph with a shelf of some personal protective equipment is not an indication of the great work that the commun= ity is doing in all of our communities.
In fact, the nurses are w= orking above and beyond, as are our community’s Emergency Measures Organizat= ion and our health professionals, and I want to just say that is what we are do= ing. We are working together, and having specific details is up to the minute, I think — as I said, Dr. Hanley has indicated that we have over 200 tests that have gone out, and it’s changing on an hourly basis. It’s not something that I’m going to stand here and take critic= ism on, because it’s not acceptable for us to get into a debate on a budg= et bill to speak about how many tests have gone out.
What we have to ensure th= at we have resources in the budget to support our communities, and we are doing t= hat.
Mr. Hassard: It’s interesting that the minister wants to talk about how hard the nurses are working. I certainly agree, but= it’s unfortunate that their minister won’t follow their lead and actually = get to work herself.
We have listened to health ministers across this entire country who are working with their chief medic= al officers of health and providing accurate information to the media or to th= eir respective legislatures. The minister would rather stand here and accuse me= of something for the 14 years that I have been in this chair — well, I h= ave not been in government for anywhere near 14 years — so, clearly, she doesn’t have that information either.
Would the minister be abl= e to provide us, at any time, with accurate information as to how many tests have been administered and how many outstanding results we are waiting for?
Hon. Ms. Frost: So, what is most important for Yukoners to know — as of this moment in time, the information that we have from the chief medical officer is that we have no cases of COVID‑= ;19 in the Yukon.
We are preparing our pand= emic plans in our communities. We are working to ensure that we have health supp= orts available and that we have a community plan in place. We have zero cases identified. Certainly, on a daily basis, I have a conversation and a meeting with the chief medical officer, and we talk about many things. We talk about services that are available in our communities. What is it that we need to = do to support? We take under advisement and consideration all of that.
How many tests are done? = It fluctuates. The last information that we had from the chief medical officer was that th= ere were over 200. How many specifically — 211? 250? I don’t know. I probably won’t ever know that, and it is not something that I can let= the member opposite know. He finds humour in the fact that I don’t have t= hat information at my fingertips. It is the information through Dr. Elliot= t. She controls the tests that go out and the results that come back. She moni= tors it on a daily basis. The last information that she advised us of is that we have over 200 tests that have gone out. We have a number that have been returned — all of them are negative. That is the information that we = want Yukoners to know, and we will continue to test individuals as they present = with symptoms. We will work through our health centres and the health profession= als. That is what we want Yukoners to know.
Mr. Hassard: The minister seems to think that I̵= 7;m finding this funny. Well, I find this anything but funny. This is absolutely appalling. I cannot believe that the Minister of Health and Social Services, who talks about working so closely with the chief medical officer of health= and has briefings with him on a regular basis, has no idea and says she doesn’t think she will ever have any idea about how many tests have b= een administered and how many results we’re waiting for.
Honestly, I have no idea = how to respond to that. I guess I will choke on that one for a few minutes and try= to move on.
With regard to the testin= g and the length of time for the tests to be completed, we heard initially from t= he government that these tests would be turned around in three to five days. Is the minister able to at least tell us how many tests were actually completed within that three- to five-day benchmark?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I will say again that the chief medical officer manages the tests that they administer. They are sent out. = The results come back, and we have received the number today. That changes on a daily basis. I am not prepared to stand up here and give out — every = day, these are the tests that have gone out, and this is what has come back. Thi= s is not something that I am prepared to do here.
What I am prepared to do = is ensure that we work with our chief medical officer and that we work with th= e BC Centre for Disease Control in ensuring that all of the tests that have gone= out are returned as quickly as possible, recognizing that there have been challenges given the escalation of this across the country. BC is also experiencing significant pressures, so we are working on getting the samples out. Every day, samples are sent out; the results come back.
Originally, we had indica= ted that the turnaround time in average, normal circumstances is three to five days. That has increased. My understanding is that, based on the increased suppor= ts from the BC control laboratory, this has reduced significantly. We are very pleased with the extra support that they have provided to us.
Mr. Cathers: First of all, I am rising to ask questi= ons here this afternoon. As members know and as has been talked about a number = of times today, of course, we are expediting debate on the budget in the inter= est of ensuring that departments do have the resources that they need at this t= ime in dealing with the COVID‑19 pandemic.
I just want to start by recognizing that, in the Department of Health and Social Services, in the Y= ukon Hospital Corporation, and, really, in every government department right now, there are a lot of people working very hard on the response to COVID‑= 19, trying to get in place plans to minimize the health risks as well as the economic impacts of it, recognizing particularly that some of the front-line staff are working very long hours right now.
As well, recognizing the recommendation coming out from the chief medical officer of health about st= aff working at home if they can, I recognize that there are managers, people wi= thin the Public Service Commission, and others who are working hard trying to finalize the government’s plans regarding who can stay home and work = from there and what steps can be taken to ensure that business continues while minimizing the health risks. To all of the people there — the health professionals and others — who are working on that, I just want to express my thanks for their efforts on behalf of this territory.
It certainly is an unusua= l thing that we are all facing here. The social distancing seen in the change of the layout in this Chamber is quite evident, and it’s a little bit surreal after the years that I’ve spent in this Assembly to see it the way it= is today.
I just want to ask a few questions related to the pandemic response, recognizing that the government= is working hard right now to rise to the challenge that is being faced. I have= a few questions about the details of that.
During the briefing on the Department of Community Services, we were advised that the medical health emergency coordination centre was activated on January 28. As the minister = and officials will know, there are two parts in a public health emergency. The health aspects are under the direction of the chief medical officer. There = is also a role within government for the Emergency Measures Organization, whic= h, in the event of an emergency of any type including a health emergency, has = an important role to play. So, during the briefing from Community Services, we were advised again that the medical health emergency coordination centre wa= s activated on January 28, but it seemed that the structure within government under EMO= was in the process of being set up. Recognizing that EMO itself is under Commun= ity Services — but of course under the Incident Command System and struct= ure — the departments that they would be responsible for working with inc= lude Health and Social Services.
Can the minister advise w= hether the Incident Command System and structure has been activated under EMO and,= if so, when that occurred?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes.
Mr. Cathers: I appreciate that it was part of the answer. Could the minister indicate when that was activated — the dat= e?
Hon. Ms. Frost: It is done now. It’s in effect right now, as we speak.
Mr. Cathers: I hope that the minister can get back w= ith that information later, but I guess that’s the answer that I’m going to get for now.
Another important element= of a response, of course, is the surge capacity of the system to bring in people= to assist with the additional volume, especially from the health side but also from the management and coordination side.
Can the minister please i= ndicate when they began ramping up the efforts to engage retired doctors, nurses, a= nd other health professionals? Is she able to provide any information about the status of that effort?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Bringing in staff from across t= he government to work with the chief medical officer — and, of course, t= he physicians are working with us as well to rotate through the assessment cen= tre.
Mr. Cathers: I would appreciate it if the minister w= ould commit to providing more information later via letter or legislative return= . I do note that, as touched on by my colleagues earlier, we would appreciate receiving additional information so that we can pass it on to the people who contact us, both about the advice from the chief medical officer, as well as the answers to other questions that people have related to their jobs if th= ey work for government or for the private sector, so that we are better able, = as MLAs, to work together with the government in assisting Yukoners who are concerned and have questions.
I also recognize, in sayi= ng that, that some of the government employees, health professionals, and others who would be required to contribute to that information are themselves extremely busy at this point in time. I certainly don’t want to see the critical health response suffer while they provide briefing notes, but I would just = note that we are interested in being part of the solution and the response, and = the more information that the government is able to provide to us helps us answ= er the questions of constituents, helps allay their concerns, and helps to ens= ure that we have a well-coordinated response to this pandemic.
As I mentioned earlier in= this Assembly during debate with the Premier, one of the lessons learned from SA= RS in Ontario was that some of the problems that occurred — both health = and economic — were the result of communication internally to government = and externally not being as good as it should have been. That has already been a problem so far in the government’s response to the pandemic. I also, = in saying that, recognize that people who are dealing with that — there = are many people throughout government who are working very long hours right now= in response to the pandemic. Since we are where we are, I do want to make sure that those people understand that we do appreciate the work they are doing = and the long hours that they are putting in.
It is a concern that the communication has not been as good as it should be and that government does= not seem to have pushed the button on ramping up this response as early as they should have. I do, again, in noting that, just want to say that we recognize that we are where we are today, and I appreciate the work of everyone who is working long hours in this area.
I want to ask a specific = question of the minister regarding community testing. If people go through the self-assessment or call 811 and determine that, based on what they hear, th= ey should get tested for COVID‑19, can the minister indicate in which Yu= kon communities testing is available?
Hon. Ms. Frost: All communities.
Mr. Cathers: I am pleased to hear that response. I c= ould ask a lot of other questions related to pandemic preparedness here and other areas of the Department of Health and Social Services, but recognizing the shortage of time we have here this afternoon and in the interest of ensuring that all departments have the resources they need and are able to have their focus directed on responding to this pandemic rather than on supporting the= ir ministers here in this Legislative Assembly, I just want to conclude by thanking, again, everyone who is working hard on this response — whet= her they work for government or others, such as physicians, nurses, and others within the health field and those working for the Hospital Corporation, who together, I know, are doing their best to respond to this pandemic and to k= eep Yukoners safe.
In conclusion, I would ju= st urge all Yukoners to recognize the importance of doing their part, including following the advice of public health officials and avoiding unnecessarily buying more items than they need and contributing to completely unnecessary shortages, like the recent toilet paper shortage we have seen in the Yukon. There was absolutely no need for there to be a shortage of that. While recognizing and appreciating the concerns that some people have, it is important for everyone to remain calm and to respond in a thoughtful manner, doing so based on the advice of public health officials.
With that, I conclude my = remarks here on this and thank the minister for the answers she has provided here t= his afternoon and urge her to get back with the other answers as soon as that information is available.
Hon. Ms. Frost: In response, we negotiated a co= ntract over two weeks ago with agency nurses. We are bringing in retired doctors. We’re working with Yukon College to speak with them about the LPN program. As I understand it, there are 18 nurses there. Looking at the supp= orts — I want to just acknowledge the nurses and doctors and the folks who= are coming forward to lend a hand to work together to find solutions. We are calling on all resources from across the government.
Yukon’s medical sys= tem will remain diligent in ensuring that we have the supports available across the Yukon with respect to testing and how quickly tests are turned around and h= ow many tests are done. We have full confidence in our health care team and we= are working closely with them to ensure that we all take necessary precautions = and that tests that are necessary are done.
We have recently put in t= he self-assessment tool to eliminate some of the unnecessary testing. We’= ;re trying to use the tests that are available for those individuals who presen= t as having symptoms. I want to just thank the chief medical officer of health a= nd their team for working so hard and acknowledging that there is a lot that we have to do yet, acknowledging Yukoners for their diligence and patience and everyone just for working together. I think that says a lot about where we = are in the Yukon.
The chief medical officer indicated that the supports are available in the Yukon and that we are well= prepared. I have full confidence in the team, despite some of what was said earlier — I will not consider any of that because we, as elected officials, n= eed to demonstrate our commitment as leaders to work together on finding soluti= ons for Yukoners. I will stay the course and I will work with the professionals= who advise me on a daily basis. I acknowledge the two chief medical officers for doing just that.
Chair: Is there any further debate on Vote 15, Department= of Health and Social Services?
Seeing none, we will proc= eed to clause-by-clause debate.
Mr. Kent: Mr. Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 15, Department of Health and Social Services, cleared or carr= ied, as required.
Unanimous c=
onsent
re deeming all lines in Vote 15, Department of Health and Social Services,
cleared or carried
Chair: =
Mr. Kent has, pursuant to Standing
Order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to de=
em
all lines in Vote 15, Department of Health and Social Services, cleared or
carried, as required.
Is there unanimous consent?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Unanimous consent has been granted.
On Operation and Maintenance Expenditures
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of
$448,580,000 agreed to
On Capital Expenditures
Total Capital Expenditures in the amount of $12,815,000 agreed to
Total Expenditures in the amount of $461,395,000 agreed to
Department of Health and Social Services agreed to
Chair: =
The matter now before Committee is Vot=
e 3,
resuming general debate on the Department of Education, in Bill No. 20=
3,
entitled First Appropriation Act 20=
20‑21.
Do members wish to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Committee of the Whole will recess for=
10
minutes.
Recess
Chair: Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
The matter now before the Committee is resuming general debate on Vote 3, Department of Education, in= Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Is there any further gene= ral debate?
Ms. McPhee has 16 mi= nutes, 50 seconds.
Department of Education — continued
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Thank you very much, Mr. = Chair. I’m joined by Alison Thom and Nicole Morgan from the Department of Education. I would like to welcome them here today and to thank them for th= eir support in answering the questions that may come from the members in the Ho= use today.
I won’t be using th= e rest of my time. I think we got to some questions the other day and to some introductory remarks, but I will take my seat and turn it over to the membe= rs opposite.
Mr. Kent: I would like to also join the minister in welcoming her officials here to provide support and thank them for coming in beyond normal business hours, as we are in anything but normal times.
When we last had Educatio= n up, we were speaking about two hypothetical scenarios — whether the schools would remain open after spring break, or whether they would be closed after spring break. Obviously, with the announcement yesterday by the chief medic= al officer of health and his recommendation and the government’s action = on closing the schools until after Easter, I have some follow-up questions with respect to that scenario.
When we asked about this = in Question Period the other day, I asked the minister — obviously, stud= ents won’t be returning to school after the March break is over, but it so= unds to me like teachers will, to work on — I believe her words were ̶= 0;the continuity of learning”. A couple of questions from that — obviously, there may be some teachers who will be in self-isolation, depend= ing on where they travelled to or if they did travel during spring break. But I’m curious: For the other teachers who are able to return to work, w= ill there be an opportunity for them to work from home during this time?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: With respect to this question, we’ll use the time — the teachers — I won’t go into= the self-isolation issue. That is, I hope, obvious. If individuals need to stay away, they can do that. It will be a decision of the administration of an individual school to determine who should be there — who are well = 212; who should be there and who should not be there and likely to address social distancing and those kinds of issues. We’ll use the time for principa= ls and school staff to assess program impacts and plans for measures needed for students to ensure their continued learning.
School staff will continu= e to be paid, of course, and will be expected to return to work on a date that their school is scheduled to reopen, unless they need to be isolated. School staff are Yukon government employees and will be supported to work from home when possible to do so, and an update was sent to parents and to school councils= and to school staff yesterday with respect to the details of this.
I can also indicate that = there was a more than two-hour meeting with principals across the territory ̵= 2; lots of them by phone — that seemed very satisfactory. They were all = very pleased to be supported in this way, and the superintendents, the ADMs, and= the department staff are working with individual principals and teachers, as needed. There will be some returning from outside of Canada and outside of = the territory who will need to be self-isolated, and it will be a team effort by the educators at the schools to determine what’s necessary.
The focus, of course, is = on continuity of learning, as I said the other day. With respect to students, = we have a departmental committee for continuity of learning that will focus on that, and they are tied into a continuity of learning committee in British Columbia. So, it is a massive effort, together, to make sure that students aren’t adversely affected by these class delays.
Mr. Kent: So, just if the minister can clarify for t= hem so that I can pass it on to any educators who reach out to us: It is up to = the school? If they feel like they want to work from home, they need to submit whatever paperwork — I’m assuming that there will be some paper= work to submit — they submit it to their administration, presumably their principal or vice-principal — and that will be the final decision? It won’t have to go up beyond them to the superintendent or director lev= el or ADM or deputy minister? It will be done by the principal at each school?=
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Classes, of course, are suspen= ded, but teachers can enter the school. We were quite careful that schools weren’t closed. We know that they have resources there. We know that = it will be important for teachers to be able to congregate there in a safe way= during this period of time to work together and support each other. Principals are working to contact their staff and to clarify individual teachers’ re= turn to work and how that might happen — but certainly, we are supporting teachers to work from elsewhere if that is appropriate in the circumstances= and they have the resources and the ability to do that to support their student= s.
Mr. Kent: If anybody does reach out, I obviously will refer them to the administration at their school.
A couple of other groups = of employees who will be affected by this closure — first are the substi= tute teachers. I am just wondering what provisions are made for them — per= haps the minister can explain to me what will happen for the substitute teachers during this stoppage. Obviously, they do have work in and out of the school= s, but is there anything to protect or to give them any financial cushion as w= e move through this uncertain time?
With respect to the current question, we are working with the Public Service Commission and with the human resources part of the Department of Education= , as well as with the Yukon Teachers’ Association, to determine the effect= on teachers on call and what that effect might be going forward depending on h= ow long the situation lasts. It may well be that, if their finances are ultima= tely curtailed as a result of COVID‑19, they could be eligible for many of= the programs that are coming from the federal government as well.
We are mindful of the fact that, as contractors, the TOCs will likely be financially impacted. I guess that, as it plays out — and I don’= ;t like to speculate, of course — it might be that more teachers on call will be required if and when we return to school this year or when classes = are resumed as a result of teachers being away for extended periods.
I think that it is a bit up in the air, but we are dedicated to working with teachers on call and making sure that we understand fully the impact that t= his situation has on them.
Mr. Kent: The other gr= oup of individuals who will obviously be affected are the school bus drivers. Not = only do they provide service to and from school for students, but often for field trips and to support those classes that are undertaking those activities. I= am just wondering if the minister could clarify for us, with respect to the bu= sing contract with Standard Bus Yukon, is there a provision for them to continue= to get paid during this stoppage, or will they not get paid unless they are providing the service?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The period of time between now, as a response to COVID‑19 and the chief medical officer of health’s advice — but the opportunity exists= for us, as a department, to take the time between now and April 15 — it’s still March break for many of the schools — to basically p= ut in place plans for the length of the suspension of classes. That length of = the suspension will determine how we can continue to abide by this situation. <= /span>
I don’t have a direct answer with respect to the contract. I haven̵= 7;t looked at the contract for Standard busing, and to be frank, we have not ha= d an opportunity to do so, but — as the federal government has said and as= our government has said — we will support individuals and companies, businesses, that are adversely affected by COVID‑19, particularly financially, and we will continue to monitor our response. I suspect that we will meet with Standard busing in the not-too-distant future as the result = of this situation, and we will be having conversations with them about maintai= ning their service and making sure that they are provided for.
Mr. Kent: That was goi= ng to be one of my questions: Will you meet with Standard? So that’s good. I’m glad to hear that will happen, and my colleagues and I will reach= out to our contacts at Standard and let them know that they can expect an offic= ial or someone to contact them from the Department of Education.
With respect to — again, these are all COVID‑19-related questions — the upcoming school council elections, is there any change anticipa= ted in those at this juncture? Obviously, Elections Yukon has a role to play th= ere as well. Have there been any discussions with Elections Yukon around what t= he school council elections would look like and if there are any changes anticipated? I believe they’re coming up in May of this year, if I= 217;m not mistaken. If I am, the minister can correct the record on that.<= /p>
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = We have not had discussions in the fast-paced last 10 days with Elections Yuko= n. I shouldn’t say this: I have not spoken to Elections Yukon. I know that= the department has been in touch — I know that we have had some prelimina= ry conversations about dates in May 2020. At this point, the effect of COVID= 8209;19 is not known with respect to the elections. If it is at all possible, we wi= ll again follow the information and the direction of the chief medical officer= of health, and we will confer with Elections Yukon and what they need to make = sure that the process is as smooth as possible. I don’t anticipate a delay= at this time, but as we all know, that situation is changing quickly and it ma= y be that May is a date that is too soon. More importantly, can elections be held during that period of time in a way that is safely structured to make sure = that all of the medical concerns are taken into account?
I appreciate the question; I think that it is an important one. It is not something that I can answer at the moment, but I am mindful of the importan= ce of school council elections going forward in a timely way in a safe environment.
Mr. Kent: I am just ho= ping — obviously, we are moving rapidly through our deliberations here tod= ay, so if there are questions that I ask that the minister doesn’t have t= he answer to, if she could provide them in writing when those answers are available, I would appreciate that. I am assuming that the Leader of the New Democratic Party would also want a copy of any responses, and when she has = her chance, I would appreciate those answers as well, if there are some issues outstanding.
The minister mentioned earlier that they would be doing some work after spring = break, leading up to the end of Easter — some planning on potential further closures. I know that it is the chief medical officer of health who would m= ake this recommendation, but will the minister of the department be in contact = with Dr. Hanley, so that decision — if there needs to be an extension= to the school closure or the suspension of classroom activities — I just want to make sure that this decision is communicated to parents in a timely fashion. I mean, they are fortunate to get about a week-and-a-half’s notice, which I think is appropriate for them to try to make other arrangements. I’m just hoping that the minister or her colleagues will work with the chief medical officer to make sure that there is enough lead = time for parents to make alternative arrangements if that school closure goes be= yond the Tuesday after Easter.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I appreciate those comments. We agree. As a matter of fact, in our conversati= ons with the chief medical officer of health, one of the reasons that it was recommended to go to April 15 is that it wasn’t the Tuesday right aft= er Easter, because it’s almost impossible to communicate over periods of time with families who are not connected to the school or to classes at the= school at the time. Part of the reasoning — one is that making the call as it was made yesterday was to give families as much notice as possible. The fact that it went to April 15 was to make sure that, in the event that it does n= ot need to go beyond that, we would have an opportunity to describe that and m= ake sure that notification of that was given out to families because, over a lo= ng weekend like Easter, it is almost impossible to get that message out.
We are in communication with Dr. Hanley on a regular basis. I’m not sure how Dr. Hanley and Dr. Elliot are managing, because a lot of people are in communication with them on a regular basis, but currently, of course, we are. We’re working on several scenarios that might unfold = as the information comes in.
We’ve committed to providing parents with regular updates. Yesterday, we wrote to parents individually, to school councils, to First Nations, to community education partners, to superintendents, to administrators, to teachers, and= to families to provide as much information as possible. We’ve committed = to continue doing that, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to provide supports to continue student learning in this unusual situation and to implement the recommendations of the chief medical officer of health.
Mr. Kent: I know that = things are moving very quickly over at the department with respect to what we̵= 7;re dealing with, and I just wanted to thank the deputy and all of her staff for being very adaptable, I’m sure, and moving so quickly on all of these things.
One of the other questions that I was curious about is if there are any considerations being given to summer classes. I’m sure that every kid= who isn’t listening right now is shuddering to hear me say that, but are there any considerations being given to summer school if this closure or suspension of class time continues for a longer period of time?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I’m not sure if the member opposite wants to be known for bringing up the idea = of summer classes, but I’ll let him worry about that. I make light of it= only in that all options are being considered — again, the period of time between now and April 15 — for an opportunity to explore all options,= but we are constrained by the collective agreement, as well as by the Education Act, and we’re wor= king closely also with the BC ministry for their guidance and assistance.=
Like everyone here, I likely hope that the suspension of classes will be short-lived. We will take each step as it comes, considering the options as they unfold that are in the best interest of our students.
Mr. Kent: The minister= spoke earlier — I think it was the last time we were up or perhaps in Quest= ion Period — about putting together some potential online learning plans. Obviously, that work will be undertaken by various schools in that time of = the closure. I’m kind of hoping that she can give us a little bit of her early understanding of that. This is an infrastructure question, but is the= re enough bandwidth for every school in the territory, particularly those community schools, for this online learning to take place from those school= s?
I guess that would be the question: Is there enough bandwidth on the Internet= for online learning to take place in the community schools?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I want to be careful not to give the impression that we are looking at e̴= 9;classes or online resources that aren’t necessarily already available. We are very well-positioned with respect to mobile devices that are available at schools, so if someone didn’t have access to that as a student, we mi= ght be able to sort that out for them. That became an issue — a well-reso= lved issue — last year at the Yukon Teachers’ Association negotiatio= ns. We are looking to focus on continuity of learning. So, a lot of individual assessments — which go along well with the curriculum in Yukon school= s as we speak — will need to be done by teachers and by teams of educators= to focus on and support continuity of learning.
Yukon schools are able to provide a range of online learning opportunities through the Aurora Virtual School in high schools, and further work is underway to = use online learning opportunities to ensure that students can complete their gr= aduation credits in particular. Department officials are coordinating with the BC ministry on course credit options and online assessments, but it will reall= y be focused on individual students and making sure that they can continue their learning.
Grade 12 graduating students will only need the grade 10 numeracy assessment, whi= ch is not a change but just a reminder, and we’re working to ensure that st= udents who have not taken this assessment are able to meet that grad requirement. = For grades 10 and 11 students, BC has postponed the graduation assessment, so t= hose will be caught up at a later time, hopefully.
We’re looking at essential learning; we’re looking at opportunities to meet families where they need it. I believe the question that I answered yesterd= ay involved — what about families who don’t have access to compute= rs? As I have said, we have some good mobile devices — online learning to= ols that we hope will be able to do that — to assist and support families, and also, we will meet families where they are — if they need paper versions of learning tools as well.
There will be a priority on course credits for grades 10 to 12 students, because obviously they will soon be looking to use those marks for their future. Gr= ades K to 9 students will be focusing on the continuity of literacy and numeracy activities, which can be provided on paper worksheets, online activities, or games — all kinds of things that will be directed by our educators.= span>
I am told by my colleague that the bandwidth in communities is robust and will support this kind of change, be it a short or longer plan, to make sure that students have access to their education.
Mr. Kent: I’m pl= eased to hear that because some — as we have heard from some of our constituents — either have limited or no Internet service in their ar= ea, so they will be pleased to hear that there will be paper-based resources available to them. I know that some have made the choice to move to home-schooling for the balance of the school year now, rather than wait to = see if classes will resume, so we’ll be able to pass that information on = to them.
Just for those who want to register for home-schooling, is there a home-school coordinator at the Department of Education, or is there someone specifically tasked with that whom they can reach out to?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The coordination for home-schooling, either previously or now — there may= be new interest from families for some of these options — should be addressed through the Aurora Virtual School. I think that is certainly some= thing that can be done either working from home or online or e‑mail or calls that can be responded to even in the current event of classes being suspended.
Mr. Kent: I think that= will do it for questions today with respect to Education.
I do have one more, sorry — for the graduation ceremonies for this year’s grade 12 class, are there any contingency plans being made in = case the current orders of the chief medical officer of health persist into June when those normally would take place? If so, what are those plans?= p>
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I want to thank the member opposite for his questions because I actually have notes and they are all categorized as the top topics that need to be addressed, s= uch as, of course, the school council elections, further school closures, and t= he other things he has asked about. Graduation is certainly on that list.
We have been speaking to the chief medical officer of health as this being one= of the quick or soon-to-be-made future decisions with as much lead time as possible for parents. It is an unfolding situation. It is one of the top priorities for us to consider because of the nature of graduation ceremonie= s, gathering families, and opportunities for students to be together, which is= so critical in their passing through a graduation ceremony and opportunity. It= is, again, one of these decisions that is being triaged with the department with respect to how this process is unfolding. It is certainly something that I = will commit to advising the members opposite about as soon as we know what sort = of decision has been made — or even as we go along, which decisions are being made in a timely fashion. We are very mindful of the fact that this h= as to be made for students to have as much lead time as possible. We are also = very mindful of the fact that, if it is one of the items or events that can reco= ver in the next few months, of the importance of it for students and families.<= /span>
Mr. Kent: I guess I sh= ould ask the minister what else is on that list that she has. What are the other= top topics? But I will just move on to some of these other things that I wanted= to ask her about today.
The first one is on the inclusive education review that is underway — and= I believe it is Dr. Yee who is conducting that review. Are there any cha= nges to the timelines of that review, given the situation that we are in?=
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = Another topic on the list — thank you, Mr. Chair. No adjustment to the t= imeline has been made at this time. There is clearly a recognition that it might ha= ve to be adjusted. One of the portions of the early phase of that review is to= go to communities — to visit communities. The consultant and others R= 12; representatives from the Education department and education priorities at t= he Council of Yukon First Nations — for instance, the Chiefs Committee on Educat= ion — are involved in this review, as well as certainly educators and oth= ers. So, the gathering of larger groups of people will be prohibited for the time being. So, it could well affect the timeline.
We are currently talking to our education partners and determining how some of that work can continue or the portions of that work that don’t involve large gatherings can continue and consultation and then potentially options= for gathering that information, perhaps in a different way. We are committed to= the timelines, because we think that this is a truly important review of inclus= ive and special education, and we don’t want that to be delayed. But certainly it is equally as important. There’s a balance to be struck so that information can be properly gathered from communities. The timeline is a question; it’s still an open one.
Mr. Kent: Obviously the Yukon Teachers’ Association had some concerns with how the initial st= ages of this inclusive education review were handled. I think perhaps other MLAs received letters from educators in their ridings. One of the quotes from the letter that I got is: “I’m deeply concerned that my government = has made a number of important decisions about the review, it’s process, = and mandate without hearing from the voice of Yukon educators or the YTA.”= ;
I’m curious. First of all: Why was the decision made to not have teachers invol= ved initially in the process like they wanted? What outreach and discussion has been had with them about this since the announcement of Dr. Yee’s review?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I’m happy to have an opportunity to answer this question.
I think some of the misunderstanding — and I’ve tried to unravel = this ball of wool a little in trying to see the perspective of the Yukon Teachers’ Association. I know that the deputy minister has been in to= uch with the president of the Yukon Teachers’ Association on more than one occasion to have this conversation. I think some of the misunderstanding ca= me from the Yukon Teachers’ Association expressing an interest in being involved in determining the scope and the mandate of the review.
The review was committed to back in 2018. We knew that a portion of the review would be affected by the Auditor General’s report that came out in Ju= ne 2019, so there were some waiting for that to be the case. The scope and man= date of the review that’s to be done and is being done comes from the recommendations of the Auditor General, to be clear. As a result, the phases were designed to meet that scope and mandate.
I think there was some misunderstanding at the YTA — and some criticism, frankly — that this was somehow decided without their input. We are following the recommendations of the Auditor General, and the scope of the review is focused there.
The
initial phase of the review is information gathering. Teachers are —
educators are — being spoken to during the initial phase. Because
The president of the Yukon Teachers’ Association sits on the Yukon Adviso= ry Committee for Education. The advisory committee on Yukon education was awar= e of this process, as well, as early as May of 2019 when we were trying to deter= mine — waiting for the Auditor General’s report — how we would proceed. They will have input at phase 1 — the advisory committee = 212; as well as the president in her role there.
Teachers will be involved in the work that we do to respond to the recommendations g= oing forward, and the recommendations provided by the consultant will be public,= as well as a summary of what we heard. So, there are a number of opportunities= .
I don’t want to be heard to be saying anything, but we completely agree that educators are a contributing voice in this review, and they’re n= ot a voice like every other voice, but they are equally as critical as parents a= nd families and the experiences of children, as well as First Nation governmen= ts and educators, and how we will manage to gather all of this information in = one place and proceed with recommendations. I’m happy to have — I h= ope in the very near future — a conversation yet again with the Yukon Teachers’ Association so we can resolve this. It’s a perspective difference.
I think that it is something that we should sit down and resolve. I am concer= ned — and I expressed this also to the president of the Yukon Teachers= 217; Association — that, with the perspective and the information that has been provided — that somehow we have not taken into account the voice, the perspective, and the expertise of educators in the initial phase of this review — is just not correct. I will continue to work diligently on resolving that perspective.
Mr. Kent: The minister mentioned that the initial work that was done was developing the scope of t= he review and that this is where there seemed to be some concerns from the Yuk= on Teachers’ Association at that time. Was that just done internally = 212; determining that scope of review — or were there any other partners involved in developing that initial scope of this education review?<= /p>
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I want to be clear. The scope came from the recommendations from the Auditor Gener= al in the audit report and review of some aspects of the Department of Educati= on and the services of Education in June 2019. Recommendation 70 from that rep= ort indicates that the department should “… conduct a full review of its services and supports for inclusive education. It should exercise a leadership role by, for example, engaging with teachers, parents, and specialists to determine how the Department can help teachers maximize stud= ent success. The review should include examining how best to: evaluate whether = its approach to inclusive education is working; determine whether services and supports are having the desired effect; determine whether sufficient resour= ces are in place to support inclusive education; prioritize students for specialized assessments; assess and track specialist recommendations; and assess and track teachers’ use of recommended strategies.”
That is recommendation 70 from the Office of the Auditor General. That is the sc= ope and the mandate of this review. It comes directly from that. As a result, t= hat may be one of the issues that’s not entirely well understood, but tho= se are the marching orders to the department, and that’s what we’re doing.
Mr. Kent: The final qu= estion with respect to the review — and we asked about this at the departmen= tal briefing — is if opposition members can be scheduled for a briefing o= nce we get a better idea now of whether the timelines will be affected. Will the minister commit to providing opposition parties access to Dr. Yee for a briefing on her work?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = Yes. I would be happy to do that.
Mr. Kent: When the min= ister mentioned the Advisory Committee for Yukon Education, I pulled up the minut= es of the last meeting, October 30, 2019, and it said that the next meeting wi= ll be scheduled for sometime in January 2020 and then a further meeting in May. Did that January 2020 meeting take place?
Just while officials are looking for that response, I’m just wondering = 212; if it did take place, when the minutes of that meeting will be available on= line as well.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The January 2020 meeting had to be postponed. The recent conversations around rescheduling that meeting were to align the advi= sory group with a meeting with the consultant, Dr. Yee.
Of course, Dr. Yee, who normally resides in Vancouver, isn’t travel= ling here for that purpose. That meeting needs to be rescheduled. We’re tr= ying to line it up with her. Intervening circumstances have meant that we will t= ry to figure out how to do that remotely or perhaps have individual members of= the committee online so that it’s not delayed unnecessarily.
Mr. Kent: In those same meeting minutes — again, this is the Advisory Committee for Yukon Education on October 30, 2019 — it talks about the attendance ar= ea review. I will just quote from the minutes. It says: “Discussed the u= pcoming review this year. Department has compiled current information about attenda= nce areas and will be coming to talk to School Councils no later than January 2= 020 to do an initial presentation and leave information with them to consider a= nd then provide feedback to the department. Noted that it is unlikely that all attendance areas will need adjustment.”
Can the minister provide us with an update on that? Have all the school councils been talked to, and was it done no later than January 2020?
With respect to the note here that it is unlikely that all attendance areas will need adjustment, can the minister provide the House with which areas will n= ot require adjustment?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The attendance area at work is ongoing. The catalyst, of course, is to determin= e an attendance area for the Whistle Bend elementary school, which has to be assigned an attendance area pursuant to the Education Act. The attendance area review of Whitehorse elementary schools is a by-product of that exercise and has connections to the government’s five-year capital plan, including replacing and renovating aging schools. Student enrolment growth, of course, is being taken into account with that. Attendance areas support the governance and the operation of schools. The Education Act requires that every = school be assigned an attendance area, and part of that work is to work with each = and every school council in discussion — some more closely than with othe= rs in the City of Whitehorse. As we proceed with the review, we still have to = meet with any potentially affected school communities through their school counc= ils to discuss their attendance areas and to hear from them before any final decisions are made.
Another factor in extending the timeline for this review or the work that is contin= uing to be done over this spring is that school council elections are due to be = held in May, and new school councils will be in place for the new school year. I= t is a contributing factor, not a deciding factor, with respect to that work goi= ng forward. I don’t have a list of the school councils that we have R= 12; yet — met with, with respect to this, but I can confirm that the work= ing group has determined where students are going to school and roughly where t= hey live as a first step in this process, and that work will continue to be done over the next few months, with the opportunity to speak to school councils going forward. Everything is impacted by COVID‑19 and the response to= COVID‑19, Mr. Chair, but we will continue this work as best we can — meeti= ng in small groups or contacting school councils in an online fashion or writt= en fashion so that we can have their contributions moving forward.
Mr. Kent: If the minis= ter will just get us a list of which school councils have been talked to and wh= ich ones still need to be provided with the information, that would be great as part of some of the other information that we have requested here today.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The annual report for the Department of Education would have been due by the en= d of April, and it will be available before that or at least by that period of t= ime. It’s in draft; it’s being reviewed and will be ultimately print= ed. I have no difficulty providing copies to the opposition when it is availabl= e, and I think we need to take a look at the requirements of the Education Act. If it needs to be t= abled in some other way or if it’s outside the parameters of the legislative Sitting, we’ll completely abide by all of those opportunities and fig= ure out how to properly get this into the public domain.
Mr. Kent: I look forwa= rd to getting that document — I’m assuming sometime in April.<= /p>
I have a few questions about the francophone school. We were told at the brie= fing that the final budget is $35.2 million. That’s what we’re looking at, as far as the francophone school goes. Can the minister tell us what the initial budget was for the school? So, how far have we gone overbu= dget with this project?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: =
The
completion of the French first language high school is making significant
progress. It is anticipated to come in on budget. The total projected cost =
of
the school is $35.4 million. This includes the contract awarded to
This amount also includes $7.5 million in funding over three years from Heritage Canada to support the construction of the francophone high school community spaces. The information that we have, as of today, is that the sc= hool is on budget and ahead of schedule.
Mr. Kent: Sorry, Mr.&n= bsp;Chair — I guess the number that I was looking for was: What were the origin= al, I guess, cost estimates? Perhaps that is the better language to use. What w= as the cost anticipated to be? I mean, we can go back through Hansard and look= at some of the other answers that we got, but when we first started talking ab= out this school project early on in the government’s mandate, I think the= re was a substantially lower number given at that point, so I’m looking = for what that initial number was.
I know that now we’re at $35.4 million, but where were we when we started this? Like I said, I could go back into Hansard, but I would prefer just to get the response here from the minister today — if she has it= , of course.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = Those are the numbers that I have today, which is this current budget going forwa= rd. The costs — I don’t have the figure that the member opposite is looking for with me. I can provide it to him. I don’t want to guess at what it is. I have a memory of it, but I don’t think that is something you should rely on. We can provide it to him.
Mr. Kent: I will look forward to getting that number.
The school site where the francophone school is being built obviously houses Selkirk and F.H. Collins as well. Will any of the facilities that are being built — I am assuming that this is where the outdoor basketball court= is going, and there is the new track and field, the trades wing, and the weigh= ts facility there. Are any of the ancillary facilities to F.H. Collins going t= o be shared with the new francophone school?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = F.H. Collins, Selkirk, and the new French first language school education campus= is an important part of education learning going forward for the future of Yuk= on education. The new school and its community spaces will provide modern, flexible learning spaces for students and community groups. The new school = is part of the campus model, as I’ve noted, for Riverdale where groups, communities, and cultures can gather, learn, and play in a variety of facilities. The Government of Yukon will continue to work with all three sc= hool communities on the Riverdale campus to collectively implement the new campus model and to ensure that the needs of all students are addressed.
Input from the neighbouring schools has been and will continue to be incorporated into the new French first language high school in order to balance the need= s of all the schools on the Riverdale campus.
We note that, while we welcome the contribution from the federal government to= put some community spaces in the French first language high school, the outdoor basketball court, the track and field, the gymnasium, and the trades wings = are, of course, attached to F.H. Collins Secondary School, but we hope that the communities can work together for the benefit of all of the students on that campus and can ultimately design and have a school community benefit for not only the Whitehorse education students but the community itself going forwa= rd. The ideal is that there will be cooperation between the parties.
Mr. Kent: Who will ultimately be responsible for booking those facilities, like the track and = the field? Is it going to be the principal of F.H. Collins — I mean, ofte= n, the principals are involved when it comes to the gymnasiums and that type o= f thing. So, I am assuming that if somebody wants to use= the field after school for any athletic activities — or even beyond the t= ime when the city takes over — and they have bookings for those fields — I’m curious, I guess, who has the final say on those faciliti= es? Is it the principal of F.H. Collins, the principal of the new francophone school, or is it something that is done between the two of them?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I am certainly happy to provide the information that I have. Again, I’m not always happy to answer hypothetical questions, but the plan is that the principals of the three schools are expected, of course, to work together f= or the benefit of all students with respect to facilities in their schools, and that is generally around school hours. With respect to after-hours, the joi= nt user group agreement that we have with the City of Whitehorse and their scheduling of those kinds of facilities after-hours will be in place with respect to those facilities.
Mr. Kent: Just for officials, I’m going to walk through some of the capital projects on = page 8-7 of the budget under “Schools and Student Services”. I might= be looking for some further details in case those are available. We’ve already talked about F.H. Collins Secondary School and the $543,000, so the= re is additional parking lot work done and the basketball court. I would assume that there is paving to do at the French first language school — the parking lot there. We had heard — and I mentioned this at the briefing with officials — that there might be problems with the city’s s= torm sewer capacity at that site.
If the minister can confirm for us, is that the case, or can these parking lot= s be paved and the storm sewer issues be dealt with? Who is ultimately responsib= le, if those storm sewers need to upgraded or expanded to accommodate additional water coming off of the hard surface there?
If I’m not mistaken, it’s extremely close to the city’s main water source as well — the walls there. I’m assuming that you can’t leave it as gravel there, so I guess you might be stuck. You ha= ve to choose to pave it and expand those storm sewers, if possible — if = the minister could provide an update — or if I have to ask a different department, I can do so in a letter.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = As part of the overall plan for the Riverdale education campus, the Selkirk Elementary School staff parking will eventually be relocated behind the sch= ool. That has raised some questions about some of the infrastructure upgrades th= at are required for managing the storm water in that area, which the Governmen= t of Yukon is working on with the City of Whitehorse.
It hasn’t yet been resolved for the 2020‑21 school year. Until the upgrades are addressed, Selkirk staff parking will remain where it currentl= y is in the front of the school, with visitor parking and school bus and parent drop-off areas. The site is a suitable option to provide appropriate parking for schools on this campus. We will continue to work with the school commun= ity to ensure that it meets their safety and functional needs.
Infrastructure upgrades are required to manage, as described, the storm sewers and storm w= ater in the area. As noted by the member opposite, federal funding is being soug= ht to undertake upgrades to municipal infrastructure. Highways and Public Work= s is leading this work, and the parking will remain where it is until that can be sorted out.
The three school communities on this campus will be sharing existing parking wh= ile these changes to the parking lot and the storm-sewer upgrades are underway.=
Mr. Kent: Moving on in= that same capital vote to the Burwash school, in previous years, there was $50,0= 00 assigned to the Burwash school, or the Kluane Lake School. It was a $50,000 estimate in 2019‑20. None of that money was spent, according to the forecast. In 2018‑19, $50,000 was the actual expenditure there as wel= l. I am obviously curious about that. We can ask about that another time, but th= is year, it has jumped up to $500,000. In previous budgets, that was going to = be the amount for the construction of that school. Now it’s gone tenfold into this year’s budget. It says in the briefing package that we got = from the department that $500,000 is for the Burwash school for working in partnership with Kluane First Nation to relocate the existing Kluane Lake School to Burwash Landing.
Can the minister explain exactly what work is going to be undertaken for that $500,000 expenditure? While I am on that same topic, looking at the budget documents, it looks as though the school that we had initially thought R= 12; and I will look back to previous years’ budgets — was going to = be about $500,000 has now gone up to between an $11.5 million and $18&nbs= p;million facility.
Obviously, there’s a fairly big discrepancy between what we were led to believe = was going to be spent on that school in last year’s and previous years= 217; documents to what has emerged in this year’s budget.
I’m looking for an explanation — what exactly the $500,000 is going to be spent on this year and why the cost has gone up so much.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = As part of the commitment — let me just skip that for a second. I’= ll come back to it.
The funding in the 2020‑21 budget — $500,000 for the Kluane Lake Burwash school — is to continue consultation on the development of a functional plan that would form the basis and the early design work for the facility — what I hope is all of the funding needed to design that facility. As part of the commitment to reconciliation and long-term capital planning for Yukon schools, we are pleased to be working in partnership with the Kluane First Nation to relocate the Kluane school from Destruction Bay = to Burwash Landing.
This comes at the request of our work with the Kluane First Nation. Originally, = the conversation was to renovate an existing building, and that was early on in= our conversations with them a few years ago — the $500,000 — and whether that would have been sufficient or not is a question that has evolv= ed.
Our officials are working together to move the project forward. Based on the five-year capital plan, as the member opposite has said, the project is estimated to be between $11.5 million and $18 million, but there = is no information yet on space programming or potential enrolment. That is continuing to be worked on.
We will be identifying additional resources in the department’s budget in future fiscal years to support the project going forward, and we can provide more details on the plan as these discussions move forward.
Part of the evolution of this project is that the functional plan is being done = to match an early plan — but done by the Department of Education, and I = want to get the title of that plan correct, if I can just have a moment — which was available last year and sets out functional requirements for mode= rn learning spaces. Of course, the functional plan for this project now has to adhere to those appropriate situations and opportunities for learning.
It is a project that is long overdue. It is something that our government is committed to. I think that it is an appropriate evolution of education and reconciliation with that particular First Nation and an opportunity for students and families to remain, we hope in the future, in that area — for the opportunity to have their students educated near home.
Chair: Do members wish to t= ake a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agre= ed.
Chair: Committee of the Who= le will recess for 10 minutes.
Recess
Chair: Committee of the Who= le will now come to order.
The matter before the Committee is Vote 3, Department of Education, in Bill No. 203, entitled First Approp= riation Act 2020‑21.
Is there any further general debate?
Mr. Kent: Before the b= reak, we were talking about the Burwash school. I think the minister said that th= ere are no details yet on space enrolment and programming. Obviously, the work = this year will develop a functional plan, which would help to determine that, but I’m curious as to how this number was arrived at in the five-year bud= get documents — the $11.5 million to $18 million — if the= re are no details yet on any of these other things. Again, we have heard from = some in the community that it could be being planned for 125 students. Is that w= hat this number is reflective of, and then, how was that number arrived at, I guess, if that is the case?
I’m just trying to figure out — if I was a contractor looking at this = 212; saying that there was going to be an $11.5 million to $18 million project out in Burwash Landing in the next five years, then he might want to tick that off on his list of things that he might want to go after. But I am just not sure how that number was arrived at if none of this other stuff has been done first.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The estimate — I appreciate that is a wide estimate at this point that is included to give some numbers with respect to potential planning for the capital plan. It is based on the functional requirements upon which the functional plan will be based, and it takes into account things like —= ; in terms of the design of the school — the size of classrooms required f= or so many students, of office space that is shared by admin staff, lobby spac= e, and gymnasium — those kinds of things. As a result, the guidance of t= he functional report and requirements going forward sets a certain amount of t= hat for estimation purposes.
I can indicate that the conversations with respect to the Kluane First Nation — without disclosing the details of those — have been around a centralized part of a school building and then an opportunity to add, with classrooms or learning spaces — previously known to the rest of us as “classrooms”, but modern learning spaces — with the idea = of expanding those in the event that school enrolment grows, for instance.
Mr. Kent: Moving on to= the modular classrooms — there is $2.1 million in the budget. Can the minister provide us with a breakdown of where those modular — how many will be built for that amount they’re anticipating? Which schools will they be deployed to?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = We’re working with Education to acquire five new modular classrooms. Two of those modular classrooms are complete and have opened their doors to students and teachers, as the member opposite knows, at the Golden Horn Elementary Schoo= l. A tender for a third new modular classroom for Selkirk Elementary School was advertised on February 18 of this year and did close on March 12 of this ye= ar. We’re planning on procuring two other modular classrooms.
The Government of Yukon is also working with the Dawson City school community to discuss space needs and explore ways to ensure that Robert Service School m= eets the needs of students, the library, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, and residents of that community moving forward.=
As the member opposite will know, the two modular classrooms at the Robert Ser= vice School in Dawson City late last year needed to be decommissioned and are not currently being used for the spaces that they were providing for the school= in the past as a result of some mold that was discovered when renovation work started to be undertaken. As a result, that particular school and its needs have to be taken into account in this $2.1 million budget.
Mr. Kent: Just to confirm — of that $2.1 = million, there will be three modular classrooms built and then renovations to the on= e at Robert Service School. So that means that there were two modular classrooms built last year. Can the minister just confirm that for me?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I am happy to clarify that if I haven’t been clear.
In the 2019‑20 budg= et, the two portables were built and placed at Golden Horn Elementary. A portion of= the sum of money from that budget was used to begin the process with respect to= the Selkirk portable. The $2.1 million that is in the 2020‑21 budget will be used to deal with the Selkirk portables — so the completion a= nd placement of the two Selkirk portables — that will likely end up at Robert Service School.
Mr. Kent: As the minister knows, other schools have requested modular classrooms or portables, including the Hidden Valley Elementary School. The Member for Lake Laberge brought forward a request ag= ain to ask the question of the minister about the potential for putting a porta= ble at Hidden Valley School and if that is being considered. But then again, when I look at the five-year documents, there is nothing beyond this year for modu= lar classrooms or portables, so I am not sure. Is this it? Is what we get this = year for Selkirk and Dawson it, or is the five-year document just mistaken and missing some future portable construction?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: We continue to, as a departmen= t, monitor the enrolment and capacity at the elementary schools in the City of Whitehorse very closely. There is an overall trend of enrolment growth. That won’t surprise anyone here, and that’s expected to continue. To provide more flexibility in the learning spaces in Yukon schools, the government has budgeted $3 million over two years to build the modular classrooms that I have noted — some already done at Golden Horn, one expected at Selkirk, and we continue to plan for the new Whistle Bend elementary school.
The Department of Educati= on is monitoring enrolment to help administrators and school communities plan for= the changing trends for the short-, medium-, and long-term needs of Yukon schoo= ls. Some schools have increased enrolment, while others have decreased — families move, and neighbourhoods, and that sort of thing. One of the thing= s that we spoke about earlier, the attendance area review, is an important part of this work. We have some schools where there are many students who live outs= ide the attendance area for whatever reason, and we need to work at that.
I have said before in this Legislative Assembly, and I’ll say it again: The attendance area revi= ew — we won’t be looking at moving students drastically out of sch= ools they have come to know and love, but moving forward, we need to pay attenti= on to attendance areas. With respect to Hidden Valley in particular — as= the question makes reference to — Hidden Valley is not yet at its capacit= y, and we continue to work with that school community to have them use and modernize some of their available spaces and we can support that, as a department.
It is always important = 8212; it is an exercise that we have encouraged all administrators to do — to = look at their available spaces in whatever school they are in, and how to better= use or utilize spaces that maybe haven’t been used for learning spaces be= fore and think more broadly about that.
Lastly, I can note that t= here is pre-registration kindergarten growth at Hidden Valley and at Holy Family elementary schools — so, that area of the city — and we will wo= rk with the school administrations to determine space needs and staffing plans= to manage that growth, as we go forward.
Mr. Kent: I apologize if the minister mentioned this= and I just didn’t catch it — but are there no plans beyond this yea= r, then, for any portable classrooms? Because in the five-year document, it’s a blank from beyond this year. Can the minister just confirm that there are no planned portables then, just given what is in front of us, as = far as the five-year document?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: That is the document, as plann= ed, before the member opposite. He is correct about those current figures in th= ere. I would note, of course, that one — certainly with respect to schools= and the Education portfolio going forward — one of the conversations we h= ave regularly with Highways and Public Works and with my colleagues is that we = are mindful of the fact that enrolment is potentially changing going forward and that future decisions might need to be made with respect to adjustments to = that five-year capital plan, particularly with respect to schools.
There has been a long per= iod of time without a new elementary school. We are not sure yet about the effect = that a new elementary school will have and how families might move around and wh= ere the student enrolment will land as a result of a new school in a few years,= but it is top of mind and something that is looked at all the time with respect= to adjustments that might need to be made, going forward. But my colleague acr= oss the way is correct: That is the current amount in the budget.
Lastly, I will just note = that Whistle Bend school is a key aspect in our work to address the growing enrolment in the City of Whitehorse.
Mr. Kent: In past years’ Education debate or Question Period — or when I was engaged in questions with the minister — she talked about 700 vacant spaces in Whitehorse area schools. Perh= aps she can just give us an update on what that number is now. Is it still 700,= or where are we now with respect to the number of empty spots at Whitehorse ar= ea schools?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I don’t have the number = at my fingertips, and I will note that management of enrolment across Whitehor= se schools — and Yukon schools, frankly, but we’re talking about Whitehorse schools in this question — is critical. I can commit to getting that number for you in some detail, and I would like to just note t= hat, when you spread those empty spaces — if we can call it that — across a number of schools in Whitehorse proper, across K to 12 grade level= s, it does tell a story, but it’s a complicated one.
So, I can commit to provi= ding that information to the member opposite.
Mr. Kent: I wanted to talk about the Whistle Bend sc= hool for a little bit here. The amount of money in this year’s budget is $1.575 million for school planning and design. Now, there’s a generic scalable design that was in the budget a few years ago, and it was = my understanding that it was going to be used for planning on the school as it= is. However, the government put out a news release stating that the school woul= d be a design/build by Colliers Project Leaders. We’re just kind of curiou= s: is the generic scalable school design that was apparently done by the department going to be used for this school, or is it going to be a design/build as noted in the press release? Also, what we were told at the briefing with officials — we’re not sure exactly how this scala= ble school design will be used. It will be interesting to get some clarification from the minister.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: The member opposite is correct= . We had conversations regarding a scalable design. When that work was done, it resulted in a generic functional program; a generic functional program was = the resulting document. That is being used with respect to this process for Whi= stle Bend school, but it is also a design/build project, which will build a desi= gn on top of a generic functional program, which I mentioned earlier today in answering the questions regarding Kluane Lake School. It is that functional program that helps scale projects like this, particularly schools.
The school design is base= d on a generic functional program, which will accommodate, in the Whistle Bend sch= ool case, between 275 and 425 students. I hope that clears that up.
Mr. Kent: When we first spoke about the generic scal= able design, our party at the time and I, as critic, were critical of this appro= ach based on what we had heard from some in the design community. I don’t have the exact numbers in front of me, but she indicated that having that w= ould save millions of dollars over the long run — having that generic design — but now it’s a generic functional program.
Can the minister just cla= rify where we went from a design to a functional program? Then, I guess, if there were millions to be saved, how much are we anticipating being saved fr= om this new generic functional plan that she spoke about?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I think what we learned in that process, in answer to the question from the member opposite, is that the generic functional plan that was completed in 2018 is, in fact, the foundat= ional document upon which schools will be measured. It is the first piece of work= in the planning and design part of a school development. It considers the type= s of rooms, the required spaces, based on the range and number of students, ultimately going forward with the modern learning spaces. This school design must ultimately also accommodate different sizes of schools, geology, land = that is available, and those kinds of things. A generic functional program does provide guidance there and is based on the expertise of those in the busine= ss of building these kinds of facilities. Ultimately, the design will be based= on that document.
There is a savings. It doesn’t have to be done every time, obviously. This is an important resource that the Department of Education has not had before. Going forward, while it’s not a scalable design, it’s certainly the first stag= e in that process. I don’t have the number with me to say or estimate what that would cost, but we can provide what the ultimate cost was with respect= to that functional program. Clearly, that doesn’t need to be done every = time now.
Mr. Kent: It sounds like there was going to be a scalable design, and then they moved it to a functional program — aft= er. Just a couple more questions about Whistle Bend school. Obviously, the plan= ning started last year, with about a $300,000 forecasted expenditure, down from a $1.6‑million overall budget.
We’re looking at $1= .575 million this year, as was explained to us, for planning and design. I know that there’s a committee that has been put together.
I have asked this questio= n of the minister before. I’m curious why no current teachers or members of the Yukon Teachers’ Association are on that planning committee, and then I will just get in a couple of other questions too. How much of that $1.575&n= bsp;million is for school planning, and how much of it is for design?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: We are currently working on the planning for the new Whistle Bend school with partners and representatives through a project advisory committee and with the Colliers Project Leaders = as the owner’s advisory for the project. As I have said earlier, that sc= hool will hold up to 425 students. More specifics will be determined as plans progress, building on the base requirements for an elementary school, with = the consideration of input from the project advisory committee about school programming and cultural and community needs. We have heard recently, in our work with this project advisory committee, that more perspectives and broad= er perspectives are being sought by them. I should note that, of course, one of them will be educators’, but I should note that educators from the Advisory Committee for Yukon Education did provide perspectives on moderniz= ing learning spaces last year in the work that was begun on this school. On an ongoing basis, we work directly with a school staff on their facility needs= .
Of course, there isn̵= 7;t a staff with respect to the new school yet, but we will be bringing in teache= rs and educators with expertise for the purposes of making sure that the schoo= l is responsive to the community’s needs and to what we know about modern education going forward and all the important aspects of the educators̵= 7; perspectives that are brought and will be brought to this project.
Mr. Kent: Let’s move on to the Ross River Scho= ol — $4.6 million for remediation at the school. At the briefing, I asked for some details on that expenditure. There wasn’t much in the written documents that we got from the department, but I’m wondering = if the minister can just give us a breakdown of what that $4.6 million expenditure is and where it’s going — how much is going to actu= al construction versus consultants versus whatever else has to be done with th= is.
I’m looking for a l= ine item breakdown on that $4.6 million expenditure.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I do understand that some of t= he breakdown with respect to this number was provided by the Minister of Highw= ays and Public Works in his conversation at Committee of the Whole yesterday, b= ut I’m happy to reiterate that. As we work with the Ross River School community to plan for a new school, we need to, of course, make sure that o= ur top priority is that the building is safe, and the top priority is the safe= ty of our students and staff. We continue to ensure that the current building remains safe and available for those folks — the students, staff, and= the community.
The government is investi= ng $4.6 million for further stabilization work in Ross River School and is monitoring the school. The breakdown of that work includes: continuing inspections and rep= orts; cooling of the crawl space at the Ross River School; work on the school roof and eavestrough; foundation monitoring to provide survey data; some electri= cal connections and mechanical repairs; and continuing to monitor the safety of that building for students.
Mr. Kent: This remediation project has about $9.5&nb= sp;million to $13 million booked for it over the next five years.
Is the government plannin= g on making a decision on when to perhaps stop putting band-aids on this and mak= e a decision on building a new school, rather than throwing $9.5 million to $13 million at the remediation of the existing school?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: The figures in the budget with respect to the remediation of Ross River School are projections with respec= t to that opportunity. We certainly hope that some of those funds can be put tow= ard a new school sooner than that, but the responsible thing to do is to include those amounts in that five-year capital plan.
We are working with the c= ommunity to determine their desires and requirements for an educational facility in = that community. We are taking their lead with respect to those discussions. I th= ink my colleague mentioned yesterday that there need to be conversations regard= ing a site, there need to be conversations regarding other opportunities and ot= her projects that might be built in that community so that economies of scale c= an be taken into account. We hope that this work progresses before the five-ye= ar projections in the capital plan, but it’s the responsible thing to do= to have those numbers there.
Mr. Kent: We’ll check back in on that project = as it progresses.
A couple of other things = in the five-year portion of the budget documents here. There are two projects list= ed — a Whitehorse school replacement and an elementary school expansion.= A couple of years ago, we had Holy Family and Christ the King in this documen= t. They’re no longer in here. Those are some of the projects. Obviously, there’s a lot of concern that we’re hearing from Whitehorse Ele= mentary about the shape of the existing school and some things that need to be done= . We have also talked in this House about a 10-year capital plan for schools. The minister has raised it on a number of occasions, but we have yet to see that document.
When will these two schoo= ls be identified — which one is going to be replaced and which one is going= to be expanded — and when can we see a copy of the 10-year capital plan?= I believe that last fall, when we were in general debate on the supplementary, the Premier mentioned that it was an internal document at that time. I̵= 7;m just looking for some clarification from the minister on if that document is nearing completion, and if so, when will it be done and made available to t= he public?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: We work with each school commu= nity on planning for their facilities and the short-, medium- and long-term needs that they express and options, including modernizing learning spaces —= ; I think I have said this before — to reflect student communities and Yu= kon First Nations ways of knowing and doing, which are important elemental fact= ors.
The Government of Yukon h= as a five-year capital plan. That is what we’re working to and will contin= ue to work to. That includes school projects to ensure that all buildings are = safe and available for many years to come. School projects in the five-year capi= tal plan include a new elementary school in Whistle Bend, modular classrooms — which we have talked about already — in the short, medium and long term — Selkirk and perhaps Robert Service — working with t= he Kluane First Nation school to relocate that school, the new French first language secondary school, the additional site features near F.H. Collins, = and ongoing stabilization work for Ross River. We have touched on all of these.=
This five-year capital pl= an is the capital plan for Yukon schools and the Department of Education. All approved capital projects from the Department of Education are prioritized = and managed through this plan, Mr. Deputy Chair. We work on the five-year capital plan to provide certainty and planning going forward, as I have mentioned already. Enrolment and circumstances in the City of Whitehorse gi= ve effect to adjustments that might be needed over time, but we are working to provide certainty for our school community and our business community going forward.
The order of renovating or replacing priority schools will be based on criteria such as building age, seismic mitigation considerations, and operational needs.
Most importantly, I want = to indicate that conversations with Yukon school communities about the long-te= rm planning for their facilities are ongoing and will continue over the next f= ew years as discussions are had about future school project planning and development. I think it is critical for Yukoners and members of this Legislative Assembly to know that we are working very closely with school communities to have conversations about their needs and the facilities that they work in and that their children and families spend time in and to prio= ritize those in the long-term plan for replacing and renovating schools here in the territory — not a practice that has happened in the more distant past= , I will say.
I guess I really want to = take the opportunity to note that the Whistle Bend project, in particular, is an exciting development going forward. While that’s the case — and we’re working with attendance areas and school communities, parents, = and teachers to make sure that this work is done in a very good way. It is also critical for us to work with school communities going forward, and it’= ;s an important change.
That Whistle Bend school = decision has been made, but that doesn’t stop the work that needs to be done w= ith respect to what’s next.
Mr. Kent: I just wanted to touch on a couple of othe= r topics before I turn the floor over to my colleague, the Member for Takhini-Kopper King.
One is the Yukon Native L= anguage Centre. I know there was a transfer agreement, I believe, from the Departme= nt of Education to the Council of Yukon First Nations when they took that over. I’m just wondering if the minister can point me to the line in the bu= dget where that transfer payment is housed and exactly how much it is. Then perh= aps she can give us an update on the certifications and the other work — = the transition between the old model and now the new model of CYFN running the Yukon Native Language Centre — if the same amount of work is being do= ne as was being accomplished before.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I will note first, for the mem= ber opposite, that the line item with respect the native language program exists under the First Nation initiatives part of the Department of Education. It = is a figure of $1.135 million transferred to the native language program as part of a total budget for that branch of the department of $3.521 mil= lion.
I can also indicate that = the revitalization of First Nation languages and restoring First Nation responsibility for their languages is an essential part of the government’s work toward reconciliation. It is the reason that we have determined that the Yukon First Nations should be and are now in charge of = the revitalization of their languages as a critical priority for restoration and reconciliation. There are regulatory provisions in place that require candidates for aboriginal language teachers to meet fluency and certificati= on requirements and that those are structured and determined by the Yukon Nati= ve Language Centre through their programs that promote First Nation languages, learning, and certification as is their mandate and increase fluency and pr= oficiency.
The teacher certification regulations provide that a cultural certification may be issued to a person= who has fluency in one or more Yukon First Nation languages, a native language instructor certificate or equivalent, and knowledge of the history and cult= ure of Yukon First Nations. The department works to recruit certified candidate= s to fill vacant aboriginal language teacher positions. It does face challenges,= but those individuals are certified by the Yukon Native Language Centre, and we= are happy to support that work through the $1.135‑million transfer payment that is given to them.
Mr. Kent: I also wanted to thank the minister for the legislative return that she tabled today with respect to the number of stud= ents that were in the lottery. Obviously, we are approaching almost another full kindergarten class — who were in the French immersion lottery. As pla= ns unfold, I know that the minister and the department are set for this upcomi= ng fall, but if we continue to get numbers like that on the wait-list, obvious= ly they will have to look at some different plans.
Has planning started for = either expansion of French immersion into other schools or increasing — that= is what I am looking for. What kind of plans have started for expansion of Fre= nch immersion to accommodate that growing number left out when all the lottery balls drop or however it’s drawn?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Early French immersion is a popular program in Whitehorse, and it’s offered, as the member may ha= ve noted, at École Whitehorse Elementary and Selkirk Elementary, and we continue to monitor and plan for the enrolment for this program and to recr= uit qualified French language teachers, which is a challenge on occasion — across the country, I might note, not just in the Yukon — to support = all French second language programs.
We work with families who= se children have requested but have not been placed in early French immersion = to find a suitable option for their children. I appreciate that the member opposite has noted that and that the numbers this year will likely be able = to be managed in that way by working with individual families and their preferences. There is, of course, the availability of French immersion in g= rade 1 and late French immersion in grade 6, which generally has the ability to encompass those students who would like to study in a French immersion mann= er.
All students who come tow= ard that programming and may not be chosen or permitted initially through either sib= ling recruitment or the lottery are worked with on a one-by-one basis. We are working with the French second language advisory group and committee on this issue constantly. I should note that it’s not just about kindergarten entrance of individuals, children, and families who would like to study Fre= nch immersion. We need to make sure that our French immersion programming is stellar, available, and meeting the learning needs of students all the way through high school, including to the end of grade 12. That is an important focus.
I know that, when there i= s early kindergarten enrolment, the focus all seems to be on little kindergarteners= and whether they’ll enter the French immersion world, but the truth is th= at we need to make sure that those programs are available and viable throughout t= heir school career.
Mr. Kent: We will touch a little bit just briefly on= the Selkirk Elementary School. I know that the minister is aware of their conce= rns. She attended their most recent school council meeting and talked about the safety issues at the back of the school where the student drop-off is. They= are looking for additional street lights and other aspects.
When I was looking at the= budget documents, it does say school facilities, parking lots, et cetera; $500,000= to $1 million this year. Can the minister confirm that some of that money= is going to the Selkirk drop-off area for improvements there — if she co= uld do that — and then it looks like $4 million to $5 million in the following fiscal. If she could identify what fiscal year that is done a= nd also provide some certainty as to where the city’s responsibility end= s on Selkirk Street with street lights, sidewalks, and even maintenance aspects = and where YG or YG Education takes over responsibility for that. That would be helpful. I know that this is something that the school council and parents = in Riverdale have been asking me about for a while now.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: With some of the infrastructure upgrades, as I noted earlier with respect to Selkirk Elementary School, we’re working on it with the City of Whitehorse. In my recent meeting with the Selkirk school council, I really appreciated their work on behalf = of their school community and their work and support with the Department of Education — and we are supporting them in these conversations with the City of Whitehorse — for the purposes of coming up with the best poss= ible resolution to these items.
They are ongoing. The determination for the line item that has been mentioned by the member oppos= ite with respect to school projects could well include some of these opportunit= ies for Selkirk Elementary. That budget item is permitted and determined by wha= t we think will be the asks of schools and prioritization of that work over the coming year.
I certainly have committe= d to Selkirk that we will continue to work with them and support their efforts w= ith the City of Whitehorse. I don’t have the answer regarding where the Department of Education boundary and the City of Whitehorse boundary ends or where the two shall meet. It’s part of our conversation going forward= .
Mr. Kent: My final question takes us back to how we started today with respect to teachers who are looking to work from home. A= fter we started our conversations today, our office heard from a teacher who has= let us know that teachers are being told that they have to be at work on March = 30 unless in quarantine — I’m assuming that is quarantine or self-isolation. Colleagues from other schools were contacted by their admin. This individual hadn’t received anything from her school, but this go= es against the global directive of staying at home.
Just for the record, that= global directive that went out yesterday — from global notes on Wednesday, M= arch 18, at 4:13 p.m. — talked about work-from-home arrangements: “Except as set out in section 5, each department will make best effor= ts to have in place work-from-home arrangements for its regular indeterminate = and term employees by the end of the day on Friday, March 20, 2020.” Sect= ion 5 is: “Employees who are carrying out critical or vital services for a department as identified in the department’s business continuity plan that cannot operationally be provided from home, will continue working in t= he workplace.”
I’m hopeful that the minister can give me some clarity on this so I can get back to my constitue= nt who reached out to us and let her know — if she’s not comfortab= le going back to school on March 30 — and I believe the minister said th= is earlier — that other arrangements will be made with the administratio= n at the school.
This is especially import= ant, given what else was just put on my desk, and it’s a tweet that came across on March 19 — so that’s today — and it says that Dunleavy announces that the Trump administration has confirmed that Canadian border closures will not apply to crossings to Alaska. That’s extreme= ly important. I know that the minister probably won’t have any background information on that, but I’m hoping one of her colleagues will.
The initial part of that = tweet was that there were two new confirmed COVID‑19 cases in Fairbanks. Neither were travel-related. Officials were trying to determine whether the= re are direct contact travel-related cases already confirmed in Fairbanks or, = more concerning, community-spread. Obviously, we know that this virus is at our doorstep. So, I am hoping that the minister can give me an answer that I can provide to my constituent, and then either her or her colleagues can commen= t on what we’ve seen in this tweet — that the Canadian and US border remains open between Alaska and Yukon.
While the minister is con= ferring with her officials, I would like to thank them for coming. I would like to thank all of the support staff in the Chamber, in Hansard, and anywhere tha= t is providing support to us as we work into the evening tonight to try to get a substantive portion of this budget debated so that we can bring it to a vote later this evening. Thank you very much.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I can confirm that we are supporting work from home wherever possible. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to determine or try to comment on what an individual has been told by their administrator or otherwise. I would certainly encourage = the member opposite to speak with me outside of this Chamber. Hopefully, we can= get some details so that we can make a response that is specific to the concerns that were brought to his attention and put them in touch either with their administrator or make sure, if there is a misunderstanding about the direct= ive or the plans going forward, that we can sort that out. I don’t think = that it is appropriate to do it here.
Lastly, I appreciate all = of the questions. I won’t comment on the border-crossing issue. I haven̵= 7;t read that material, but certainly there will be lots of questions, unfortunately, in the next few days about interpretations of things. We will work to support all of our Yukon teachers and all of our teachers on call in this uncertain time going forward. I appreciate all the questions today.
Ms. White: Mr. Chair, my colleague was certainly thorough, so my questions will be few.
I just want to start off = with the Yukon grant. The minister and I have discussed before the programs that qua= lify under the Yukon grant. I was just doing some quick math. It says that the Y= ukon grant will cover you for 170 weeks of education, which works out to funding, right now — based on $141 a week — of $23,000.
We have talked about this= before, Mr. Chair — I didn’t go to university, but I paid $15,000 = for a private culinary school — that I was lucky, I guess, that I got hit= by a car and I could use my insurance money to pay for school. My program R= 12; I think I ended up getting about $500 from the Yukon government, and that w= as mostly because I had achievement grants and not because it was the Yukon gr= ant. We have programs here at Yukon College — the environmental monitoring program is a great one.
I think, in this day and = age, that it is important to recognize that trades have intrinsic value in socie= ty. Without trades, nothing happens. We grind to a halt. Of course, looking at things like agriculture programs and meat-cutting programs. There are many different ways that education can look and it doesn’t have to be in an education establishment like a college or a university.
One of the things that I = have highlighted for the minister previously — and she told me that the department was looking into it — was that other programs should quali= fy. I have sent letters — for example, there is a young person who is goi= ng to flight school right now in British Columbia, and it is $110,000. This ki= d is going to be a commercial pilot but doesn’t qualify for the Yukon grant despite the fact that he grew up here and finished school here — and those things — because it doesn’t meet the program requirements= and there is also the point, too, that says it is 170 weeks, so that is great f= or folks who are looking at university for the longer term. But for people who= are going to have that kind of financial outlay for something that will get them into the workforce or getting them out the other side, it seems weird to me that Education would put the parameters on what is considered education or = not.
So, I just wanted to know= what has happened since the last time we spoke about this — since it has b= een at least a number of months and possibly a year since we spoke about the Yukon grant and whether or not we were doing program evaluations to make sure tha= t it would cover more people in their quest for education.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I don’t think the member= opposite will challenge the fact that the Government of Yukon student financial assistance programs do support many students attending post-secondary educa= tion in a variety of opportunities. Many of the ones she has mentioned are problematic for sure. I don’t disagree — as the Department of Education doesn’t disagree — that education is changing. We nee= d to be adjusting to the future of opportunities for Yukoners.
The government will consi= der changes to the eligibility criteria in future reviews. There is work being = done to determine whether or not some of that is regulation work that can be don= e or whether it requires legislative change. In the meantime, we have been worki= ng with Yukon University, suggesting adjustments to the program descriptions or designs that they have and the structure in their programming that would al= low students to be considered under current legislative criteria — so, an opportunity to broaden that description a bit that will get us broader applicability to some students.
One of the challenging pi= eces with respect to this work going forward is that any changes that we make ha= ve to also be consistent and coherent with respect to the Canada student loan policy so that we don’t fix something with one piece of legislation a= nd then somehow adversely impact students who might have student loan applicat= ions as well through the Canada student loan program or act which provides for full-time students to be eligible for financial assistance. That work, I can assure the member opposite, is ongoing. Has it progressed as quickly as eit= her of us might like? That hasn’t been the case, but we can dedicate our commitment to making sure that as many students as possible can avail themselves of what is a very special opportunity here in the Yukon to have = some funding assistance with respect to their ultimate post-secondary education, whatever that might be.
Ms. White: The problem, as I see it right now, is th= at, although I appreciate that the minister has talked about new education, we = have had airplanes and mechanics and carpenters and such for a very long time. It’s just that, thankfully, now we’re viewing those as viable careers. That maybe is a change in recent years.
One of the concerns I hav= e is around the eligibility criteria. The example I’m going to use is R= 12; you know, as an 18-year-old or even a 19-year-old who started school, for example — family situations change, and to punish a young person beca= use of the perception of where their parents may be or what their parents shoul= d be doing, I think, is kind of a dangerous path. As an example, let’s say that we have someone who graduated from high school here, did their first f= ull year of university away, and they came back to the Yukon, because this is t= heir home.
In that time, a parent mo= ved away out of territory, but that young person is still paying their income tax in Yukon, they have a Yukon driver’s licence, they have a Yukon permanent address, they have a Yukon health care card — only to find out, once = they have applied to school and are well into the program, that they no longer qualify because a parent moved out of territory.
My question is: When we= 8217;re talking about someone at this point in time who is an independent adult, they’re coming home to work full time, they’re saving up their pennies so they can pay for school with the expectation that the Yukon gran= t is going to get them through, why is a parent included in that eligibility?
Again, there can be a who= le bunch of different situations. I mean, I appreciate that often parents will be in= a position where they can help, but they aren’t always able, and so to punish a person who is maintaining their Yukon residency, who is coming bac= k, is here when they’re not in school — how does that fit into the eligibility of the Yukon grant?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I do appreciate the points bei= ng made by the member opposite. I just want to note that the Student Financial Assistance Act was amended in 2016 after extensive public engagement, including at that time expanding the eligibili= ty criteria. I appreciate her point that it may not take into account everybody’s circumstances. Making changes to the criteria does requir= e legislative amendment and public engagement.
I also note — and I= can attest to this because the appeals, once a decision is made, do come to my = desk for the student financial assistance appeal process, which can take into account things such as are described by the member opposite — I certa= inly encourage individuals to take advantage of it. I have been very pleased with the way in which that board is operating. I have never met them or anything like that, but I certainly have noted that, when they write to me, they are taking into account individual students’ experiences. I would say that perhaps in the past, when I was first given the opportunity to have this jo= b, none of those came to me. Now, more and more, they come to me with a practi= cal approach about the effect and truly the goal of student financial assistanc= e, which is to help students get their education and pay for it.
While it is not all perfe= ct — and if there are individual cases, I would encourage the member opposite to bring them to our attention — certainly the overall point being made that individual circumstances sometimes don’t fit into the= box is a good one. It is certainly something we are trying to encourage in the department on a case-by-case basis so that the right decisions can be made.=
Ms. White: I do appreciate that answer.
For the appeal process, w= hat is the typical timeline on an appeal?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I am not aware of that because= , as I noted earlier, they come to me after that process has played out. We can inquire about what the typical time might be and provide that information to the member opposite.
Ms. White: I would appreciate that. The reason I am asking is that sometimes people get caught in situations that are beyond th= eir control, including having made an appeal and having that postponed to a lat= er date and still paying for school. I will send a letter.
You were talking earlier = with my colleague about First Nation languages. I have questions about First Nation language teachers and how a teacher becomes qualified to instruct First Nat= ion languages in Yukon schools.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: There are regulatory provision= s in place that require candidates to meet fluency and certification requirement= s in order to become an aboriginal language teacher. That is the responsibility = of the Yukon First Nation language programs under the YNLC, as it’s often referred to. They have the responsibility for their languages, and thatR= 17;s an essential part of our government’s work toward reconciliation. The funding for that, as I noted earlier, was transferred to them.
We continue to work close= ly with the Yukon Native Language Centre and the Council of Yukon First Nations on programs to promote First Nation languages, learning, and certification and= on their mandate to revitalize Yukon First Nation languages and increase fluen= cy and proficiency.
It would be through the Y= ukon Native Language Centre that these certifications are achieved. I encourage anyone who is interested to contact them.
The teacher certification regulation provides that a cultural certificate must be issued to a person = who has fluency in one or more Yukon First Nation languages, a native language instructor certificate or an equivalent, and knowledge of the history and culture of Yukon First Nations. The department works to recruit certified candidates to fill vacancies of aboriginal language teachers, but as I̵= 7;ve noted, that proficiency test — the certification — comes from t= he Yukon Native Language Centre for those individuals.
Ms. White: I do appreciate that. One of the reasons I’m asking is that, very recently, a school where all my nephews go — actually, now they are all in school, and that is pretty exciting. There was a note sent home saying that First Nation language classes had be= en cut in half, by 50 percent, for all students. So, they were getting an hour a week and then it was going to be cut down to a half-hour a week for = the entire École Whitehorse Elementary. In my understanding, it was beca= use there were two teachers — it was a shared position — and one of= the teachers hadn’t been able to go through the process to get the fluency requirement or to get the certification. So, my question is: How does the Department of Education work with the First Nation Language Centre to be ab= le to facilitate teachers being able to get that certification, especially if = we are talking about reconciliation and the importance of including First Nati= on culture in schools? Language is an excellent way. Actually, it is pretty fun right now — my oldest nephew is 12, turning 13, and I have a friend w= ho is going to the YNTEP program at Yukon University. They speak Southern Tutc= hone to each other, which is pretty incredible, and it’s only because my nephew has been able to take these classes since he was a small child.
So, I wanted to know the = role that the Department of Education has in facilitating those requirements to = be the First Nation language teachers?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: It is incredibly important, an= d I am pleased that the member opposite has mentioned reconciliation in relatio= n to this issue. Yukon native language teachers must be both certified in a nati= ve language or Yukon First Nation language and be a certified teacher. While t= he situation that has been described is very unfortunate, we are not prepared = to usurp any of the authority given to the Yukon Native Language Centre regard= ing their opportunity to certify who can teach language and culture on their behalf, to be quite frank.
As a result, it is a bala= nce. We certainly acknowledge that fluent speakers are difficult to find. We’= re extremely encouraged by programs like the one at Champagne and Aishihik Fir= st Nations. It is an adult immersion program that is coming to the end of its second year, and they will produce what we hope is somewhere near — I think 12 is the number that I have; I could be wrong about that — flu= ent speakers, who will, after an adult immersion program, revitalize their lang= uage to that extent and hopefully be able to go forward and continue that.
The Yukon First Nation la= nguage programs at the Yukon Native Language Centre are certifications that the Fi= rst Nations together have determined are appropriate levels of fluency and proficiency, and we certainly respect that going forward. We work closely w= ith them. We fund them, as I noted earlier. I forget the amount — the fig= ure was $1.135 million or something like that. We support them in that way. We work closely with them as we recognize that having First Nation culture and language in Yukon schools is a top priority of ours going forward, and we anticipate that it will continue growing. Our work with our First Nation partners is built on reconciliation and built on the recognition that this = is an important role that they have in our community, in our schools, as our partners and that we respect that going forward.
We encourage anyone who is interested in aboriginal language teaching positions to enrol in the Yukon Native Language Centre to obtain certification on their fluency and profici= ency in a Yukon First Nation language, and we hope that will continue to grow.= p>
Ms. White: My understanding was that, with the two part-time positions, there was the ability for the ongoing learning, includ= ing participating at that language centre to get that certification. Is that not how the two part-time positions were designed?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I am very reticent to talk abo= ut this in particular or to guess about it. I think it is a personnel issue th= at has been brought to the attention of the deputy minister. I would be happy = to talk about it outside of this particular venue and see if we can’t provide answers for the inquiries that the member opposite might have going forward. I am concerned that this isn’t the appropriate venue to deal with that. I wouldn’t want to get the facts wrong, so I am happy to t= alk offline about this.
Ms. White: Has the conversation been had with the community of Ross River as to where they would like their new school to go?=
Hon. Ms. McPhee: The conversation with respect = to Ross River School and what the future of the school in that community looks like has begun. My colleague, the Minister of Highways and Public Works, an= d I were in Ross River last year with the opportunity to start those conversati= ons with not only the school community but also the chief and council. I know t= hat the Minister of Community Services has been to that community and had those conversations. The Premier has been in that community and had some of those conversations, so, yes, they are ongoing.
I wouldn’t be able = to say more about location or what they have determined are the needs of that scho= ol, but our conversations have been about encouraging a relationship with our government, listening to them very carefully, and determining how we can wo= rk together on this going forward.
Ms. White: I am happy to hear that so many ministers have visited. I think that, unfortunately, the community is going to be disappointed to hear that their win in the hand games is not going to get t= hem the road repaired right away. The reason why I bring it is up is that they = were really clear just the other week that they want to move toward the sun, and they don’t want the school to be built on the permafrost. They want t= o be up the hill. It’s pretty much that, and it’s in a whole differe= nt story, because everything wants to go up the hill. I appreciate that, but I just thought I would put it out there.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The member opposite is correct — an announcement by then-Yukon College th= at they had secured federal funding and the federal government announcement of approximately $26 million for a new science building. I know that work= is being done at Yukon University with respect to the early planning stages. T= here have been conversations with Highways and Public Works about how this proje= ct should proceed. It is not anticipated at this time that the Yukon government will contribute significantly financially to that project, and we’re working with the college on issues around placement, land, ownership of land and buildings, of course, with the transition to a university. All of those issues are on the plate for conversation.
Ms. White: I thank the minister for that answer.
To be perfectly honest, when I heard that the schools were closing until April= 15, I actually thought that meant that schools were entirely closing to April 15 and that teachers wouldn’t go back in March.
Some of the questions that I have right now — I mean, I have read some of = what principals have sent out, and I am trying to understand that. One of the questions I have is: How will the Department of Education treat educational assistants or intensive learning assistant teachers or teachers on call?
So, typically, these folks are woven into the fabric of any school, and it helps make a school go, but what kind of reassurance does the department have rig= ht now that all of these folks who work within the Department of Education = 212; what does the beginning of April look like for them?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = I just want to be clear. I appreciate that, for some folks, it might be a distinct= ion without a difference, but there is a difference. The announcement yesterday= was that classes would be suspended — not schools necessarily closed. The= reason why we were careful to make that distinction is that we appreciate that teachers will be focused on continuity of learning for students. If they ha= ppen to be away at the moment, they may have resources in the school; they may h= ave materials there. They may have the opportunity to work with other teachers = who teach the same subjects or work with classes or students across the board. =
Of course, educational assistants and learning assistant teachers who are empl= oyed full time at the school will be expected, like teachers, to connect with th= eir administration to make determinations for their abilities to work from home. I’ve made that commitment several times here today.
With respect to teachers on call, it is one of the topics that we are currently trying to deal with. We have dedicated and committed — this governmen= t, our federal government — that individuals who are adversely affected = in a financial way with respect to their work as a result of the COVID‑19 pandemic will be worked with so that they don’t suffer that financial loss and would certainly be eligible — if their contracts, for instan= ce, were, in the past, a certain amount of reliable work and that is not availa= ble to them — they will likely be eligible for the federal programming go= ing forward.
We have committed, as I did earlier today in answering this question, to making sure that we look at that individually and with the Yukon Teachers’ Association. Our priorities, Mr. Chair, are to support staff to return home and to work from home, if at all possible, and to support students and their families. We anticipate that this work will be done. We spent two hou= rs yesterday with the principals of all the schools in the territory, speaking= to them about how this work can be done and about how they are required to rea= ch out to their staff about how they can make these determinations in the best interests of their students. We expect that this work will be done. =
The commitment, if I have to reiterate again, is to support staff as they return home — a good number of them are out of the territory and perhaps even out of the country at the moment. We support them to work from home if at a= ll possible, focusing on the continuity of learning for our students.= p>
Chair: Is there any further general debate on Vote 3, Department of Education?
Seeing none, we will proceed to line-by-line debate.
Ms. White: Thank you, = Mr. Chair. I feel like I earned it.
Pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 3, Department of Education, cleared or carr= ied, as required.
Unanimous consent re deeming all lines in=
Vote
3, Department of Education, cleared or carried
Chair: Ms. White
has, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of
Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 3, Department of Education,
cleared or carried, as required.
Is there unanimous consent?
All
Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Unanimous
consent has been granted.
On
Operation and Maintenance Expenditures
Total
Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of $192,995,000 agreed=
to
On
Capital Expenditures
Total
Capital Expenditures in the amount of $24,724,000 agreed to
Total
Expenditures in the amount of $217,719,000 agreed to
Department
of Education agreed to
Chair: The
matter now before the Committee is Vote 18, Yukon Housing Corporation, in B=
ill
No. 203, entitled First
Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Do members wish to take a brief recess=
?
All
Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Committee
of the Whole will recess for 10 minutes.
Recess
Chair: The
matter now before the Committee is Vote 18, Yukon Housing Corporation, in B=
ill
No. 203, entitled First
Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Yukon Housing Corporation
Hon. Ms. Frost: A= s the Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, I rise today to pre= sent the 2020‑21 capital and operation and maintenance budgets for the Yuk= on Housing Corporation.
I would like to introduce the officials with me today. I have Pamela Hine, Yu= kon Housing Corporation, over here and Gurmaan Rai, manager of finance, Yukon Housing Corporation. I just want to acknowledge t= he staff at Yukon Housing Corporation for doing such an exceptional job and re= ally great work. I will just acknowledge Pamela for her many years of service to= the public service in the Yukon government and also wish her well in her future endeavours. I know that she has done so much for the Yukon. I want to also = take this opportunity to show my appreciation and thank both the staff and the b= oard at the Yukon Housing Corporation for their hard work and dedication to maki= ng more affordable housing options available to Yukoners.
This government understands that, to have healthy, vibrant, sustainable communit= ies, Yukoners need to have homes that fit their needs and that they can afford. Yukon Housing Corporation works hard at being a trusted housing partner. Th= is budget includes increases to our programs, opportunities to leverage partnerships, investments, and a range of housing solutions to meet the nee= ds of communities.
I will just stop there and go into the questions on the main estimates for the Yukon Housing Corporation.
Ms. Van Bibber: I, too, would like to thank the officials for coming and also extend our thanks to = Pam Hine and wish her well in her ongoing endeavours — and also to thank = you for coming and assisting us at this lovely hour of the evening.
As we know, housing issues in the Yukon continue and there don’t seem to= be any easy answers to get this wait-list down. So, we have 274 on the wait-li= st, and, of course, having the large population in Yukon, Whitehorse has the biggest wait-list. What does concern me is that we have 96 seniors on this wait-list.
Can the minister give us an understanding of why this list stays stagnant and t= he numbers are not coming down?
Hon. Ms. Frost: I appreciate the question with respect to the housing units and the wait-list= .
The Yukon Housing Corporation has worked really hard over the course of the last three years to bring more affordable housing units to the Yukon. Working wi= th our communities, we have increased the housing complements through, for example, the Da Daghay Development Corporation.= We have social housing units here in the city. We have some units identified f= or the communities and are really working hard to reduce the wait times.
We have specific areas that we’re working on. One is to ensure that we h= ave more resources and supports available to victims of violence, which we identified most recently in an announcement. We are looking at ensuring tha= t we provide units to the homeless population, those who are precariously hard to house — housing affordability. I would suggest that the wait-lists re= ally are based upon priority needs. We have a growing population, but we certain= ly want to focus on changing that trend. With the new Housing First complex just opening up, we have a number of units there that will eliminate some of the pressures here in the city. We have some initiatives in this year’s budget that we’re working on. One of those units is looking at suppor= ts and a Housing First project in Watson Lake, for an example.
We’re seeing some high pressures in the larger centres — Watson Lake being = one, and in Dawson City. We’ve worked really hard with the Klondike Development Organization to reduce the pressures there. We will continue to work with our partners in acknowledging that sometimes it’s hard, as = we look at the wait-lists and the time frames and making sure that we have the right amount of budget allocation and the complement of funding in each one= of our communities to address the pressures.
Of course, Whitehorse being the centre, we want to really try not to focus on = the urban-centric model but try to look at ensuring that we bring supports to a= ll of our communities. That was really clear in the mandate letter from the Pr= emier to look at aging in place in our communities, which was a significant piece= of the aging in place work that was collaborated on by Yukon Housing Corporati= on and Health and Social Services.
I would venture to say that, of course, we always have a wait-list, but we are working really hard to ensure that we reduce the wait-list with the new fun= ding initiatives that we have.
Ms. Van Bibber: Under capital, under the heading “Social Housing”, the amount in the current budget is more than double what was allotted last year. Can the minister explain what is happening to cause such an increase in social hous= ing? Where is this money being spent?
Hon. Ms. Frost: F= or the capital expenditures for social housing, it is broken down into specific categories. We have renovation and rehabilitation of existing stocks. We ha= ve $1,200,000 in that particular budget. We talked about a lot of that previou= sly and about modernizing our housing units, but we also talked about moving aw= ay from single-family dwellings and trying to look at multi-unit facilities. T= hat will provide for some of that as we look at renovations and rehabilitation = of our units.
We have housing stocks that are over 30 years old in some of our communities, = so the resources are put into providing funding for that. We have energy retro= fits — identified as an estimated 12 social housing units, and 75 per= cent of that is recoverable under the low economy fund. We have allocated $1,402= ,000 in that line item.
Unit conversions — single-family units, as I indicated previously, are cov= ered in this one particular line item — conversions to reduce wait-lists as well as looking at older housing. Priorities are given to projects that sup= port aging in place within our communities.
The Carcross mixed-use sixplex is budgeted for in t= his particular line item. That allocation is $200,000. We have Watson Lake Hous= ing First, which is $200,000. A lot of this is for planning, drafting, and supporting the communities.
The $750,000 is going into the design of the mixed-use complex in Old Crow. Whitehorse has a mixed-use housing project as well. We have $9 million= in that budget. In the northern housing fund, there is $1,900,000.
Ms. Van Bibber: There = is $3.2 million in the rural home ownership program to help Yukoners buy = or build and to get people into home ownership in our rural areas. How is this money divided between the communities? Is it first come, first served? How = is the money decided per community?
Hon. Ms. Frost: T= he item that the member is inquiring about is through an individual application process, not by community.
Ms. Van Bibber: Thank = you very much for that answer. You had mentioned $200,000 being allocated to a Watson Lake Housing First project. As we know, we’ve just opened our first in Whitehorse. How big will this project be in Watson Lake, and how m= any residents is it being planned to hold?
Hon. Ms. Frost: T= he project in Watson Lake kind of evolved from discussions with the community. We’ve had some really great discussions with the Liard First Nation to look at a design project in the community. The $200,000 is allocated for de= sign and planning.
I just want to acknowledge the Yukon Housing Corporation staff under the lead= ership of Pamela to look at a partnership initiative there and start those initial discussions. I’m really pleased with where we are there, given that Watson Lake has come forward as a key priority.
We have another initiative with housing and ensuring that we have resources in= the future available for a shelter place as well, so it is important for us to = work with our partners to gather information to identify client-type program = 212; type and proponent to best deliver the program.
The information would include the homelessness count that is currently underway= . We have a scheduled meeting coming up in April. It will be the municipality, t= he First Nations and the NGO community, and the Housing Corporation to complete the project to have construction commence in 2021-22.
So, that’s the vision and we will continue to access federal resources. H= ow much and how many units right now — that’s to be determined by = the community.
Ms. Van Bibber: The ho= me repair loan program assists homeowners in the ability to address upgrades a= nd repairs to existing homes. Under the heading, there were three grants and loans: the accessibility enhancement grant, the emergency repair grant, and= a home repair loan.
Can the minister break down the figures for each of these programs? To follow u= p: Under the emergency repair grant, how quick is the turnaround should an emergency repair be needed?
Hon. Ms. Frost: T= here is $1.6 million for home repair loans to assist homeowners to address upgrades and repairs to existing homes, broken down into three distinct are= as: the accessibility enhancement grant for $600,000; we have the emergency rep= air grant, which is $350,000 — and that is assessed as quickly as we can = to review and turn that funding around, given that it is an emergency repair g= rant — home repair loan — adequacy and suitability — $700,000 = in that line item.
Ms. Van Bibber: The new policy that was introduced last year for staff housing and government emplo= yees where there is now a three-year maximum to stay in staff housing in the communities — and I do understand that this is way too early to assess the policy — however, can the minister tell us what feedback she has received from employees who rent in rural communities?
Hon. Ms. Frost: H= ow it works — the Public Service Commission administers the units and Yukon Housing Corporation actually manages the facilities. That is done in collaboration. Keep in mind, when this came to be, it was really a major concern that was brought to the attention of the government at that time — about equity and transparency. We had a social housing client on one side, who was paying a significant amount — 25 percent of their income, as it was governed that way — and then individuals who would = go to work in the spring and would still get charged back that same amount. The consistency — the tenants who were in the staff housing on the opposi= te side of the duplex, for an example, would be paying a consistent rate across the board. That, in itself, posed a lot of challenges for the community. = span>
So, the objective was really to provide some transparency, so we have heard some concerns about limiting the three years. There is the possibility of extend= ing that under extenuating circumstances. I want to just encourage staff to consider other housing options in the community and, if there is availabili= ty — recognizing that it isn’t always available in our communities= .
We have heard some concerns, for certain. Like everything else that changes, we want to ensure that we align to be more reflective of market rates in the community and also ensure that we aren’t further marginalizing our clients who are not in staff housing in the same unit.
Ms. Van Bibber: We can’t go through a session without mentioning the Vimy housing projec= t. We are wondering why there was no mention of it in this project. Are there ongoing talks with the society or any future plans to assist this project?<= /span>
Hon. Ms. Frost: T= he Vimy Heritage Housing Society is still continuing to work with the federal = government. We are continuing to meet with them to provide them with the supports that = they need to access resources. That is kind of where it is at currently.<= /p>
Ms. Van Bibber: Under = the five-year capital concept, there is a line saying that there are deployable mobile home units, but it isn’t starting until 2021-22. Can the minis= ter explain this item?
Hon. Ms. Frost: S= o, the deployable mobile homes are intended to provide supports in the communities where we are seeing imminent pressure and it’s intended to be mobile = so we can move it around. I think we kind of came up with this — or the department came up with this concept when we ran into some major issues in = one of our communities and we needed to find housing imminently and we weren’t able to do that within the housing complement in the communit= ies. The objective of that in next year’s budget is to consider this as an option or a means in which to provide some ability to support the community should that arise there — in any one of our communities.
Ms. Van Bibber: As we = all know, the reason we’re sitting here tonight is because of COVID‑= ;19, which is a world pandemic that we’re going through. I’m afraid = the situation we find ourselves in — the positive economic climate of our recent years is certainly gone. As I turn the floor over to the Third Party= , I would like to add my sincere thanks to all the legislative staff and the De= puty Sergeant-at-Arms and of course Hansard — who captures all of our words — for making our work go as smoothly as it can, especially under these hard circumstances. Thank you.
Ms. White: Of course, I thank the officials here from Yukon Housing Corporation, especially Pamela Hine. It has been a pleasure learning all things housing from you in the la= st many moons — quite a long time — and I’m sure your next endeavours will be exciting and you’ll bring a lot to that. We’= re lucky to have had you.
Mr. Chair, my questions right now are not very numerous. We had a great conversation in the briefing about COVID‑19 and how it would affect renters right now= in the Yukon Housing Corporation. What I’m looking for is just for the minister to tell me how — so, for example, not everyone who is a Yukon Housing Corporation tenant is on social assistance. A lot of folks have jobs and their jobs could be affected right now. I wanted to know what assurance= s Yukon Housing Corporation tenants had from the minister of Housing as to how they could pay their rent or not pay their rent or what assurances her department has.
Hon. Ms. Frost: I understand that people are worried and concerned about paying their rent, paying their mortgage or the= ir loans. As always, Yukon Housing Corporation continues to work with the tena= nts and the clients who we have to really try to understand their individual circumstances and come up with a reasonable solution — one that is ap= propriate and that meets their needs. We will continue to monitor our policies and continue to work with our clients to ensure that they align with the changi= ng circumstances. So, I want to just assure our clients that they will not get= an eviction notice should they not be able to pay their mortgage or their rent this month, given the circumstances that we are in. I think we have to be as flexible as we can to work with the tenants who are in our facilities.
Ms. White: Maybe if we could break that down into pl= ain language. If a tenant has concerns, should they contact the Yukon Housing Corporation or the Whitehorse Housing office?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Given that the units are manage= d by Yukon Housing Corporation, I would suggest that, if individuals have concer= ns or questions, that they would present themselves at the Yukon Housing Corporation office and work through that avenue.
Ms. White: In this time of social distancing, are th= ey able to call? Can a client call the client relations phone number and have = an initial conversation with someone before they present themselves physically= in the office?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Of course, it is set up so that= , if clients need to call in, they can call in. In the Housing office, we have a screen set up as well so that, if someone feels it necessary to come in per= son, we have measures set up also. Certainly, call first and speak with the Hous= ing staff and we will certainly make sure that we have sufficient staff on hand= to answer all the questions that are presented.
Ms. White: Just so we cover all the bases — so, anyone who has borrowed money from the Yukon Housing Corporation for home renovation programs, anyone who has borrowed money through the down payment assistance program, anyone who has borrowed money through the first time ho= mebuyer at one point in time, any lending program — just to get it on the rec= ord — they can all contact the corporation and have that conversation?
Hon. Ms. Frost: Yes, that is correct. Please ca= ll the Yukon Housing Corporation and work with the Housing tenant relation officers, and they will assess the situation, look for an appropriate solut= ion with each individual who calls.
It is certainly important= that we keep in the forefront of everyone’s mind making reasonable decisions = that meet the needs of Yukoners under such extenuating circumstances.
Ms. White: Normally, I would have a lot more questio= ns for the Yukon Housing Corporation, but understanding the hour of the day — especially for our friends in Hansard — I want to thank the minister and her department for the leadership in this very specific thing — making sure that people know who they can contact if they have questions or concerns and that assurance that they don’t have to be afraid on April 5. But they should call ahead of time. Don’t wait too long, folks — call if you know that there are going to be problems. <= /p>
With that, Mr. Chair= , I have no further questions.
Chair: Is there any further general debate on Vote 18, Yu= kon Housing Corporation?
Seeing none, we will proc= eed with line-by-line debate on Vote 18.
Mr. Kent: Mr. Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all lines in Vote 18, Yukon Housing Corporation, cleared or carried, as require= d.
Unaimous co=
nsent to
deem all lines in Vote 18, Yukon Housing Corporation, cleared or carried
Chair: =
Mr. Kent has, pursuant to Standing
Order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to de=
em
all lines in Vote 18, Yukon Housing Corporation, cleared or carried, as
required.
Is there unanimous consent?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Unanimous consent has been granted.
On Operation and Maintenance Expenditures
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of
$19,431,000 agreed to
On Capital Expenditures
Total Capital Expenditures in the amount of $35,532,000 agreed to
Total Expenditures in the amount of $54,963,000 agreed to
Yukon Housing Corporation agreed to
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Wh= ole to deem all remaining Votes in Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, carried.
Unanimous c=
onsent
re deeming all remaining Votes in Bill No. 203, First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, carried
Chair: = Ms. McPhee has, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to de= em all remaining Votes in Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, carried.
Is there unanimous consent?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Unanimous consent has been granted.
On Operation and Maintenance Expenditures
Total Operation and Maintenance Expenditures in the amount of
$1,254,786,000 agreed to
On Capital Expenditures
Total Capital Expenditures in the amount of $369,719,000 agreed to <= o:p>
Total Expenditures in the amount of $1,624,505,000 agreed to
On Schedules A and B
Schedules A and B agreed=
to
On Clauses 1 and 2
Clauses 1 and 2 agreed t=
o
On Title
Title agreed to
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Chair, I move that you report Bill No. 203, entitled = First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, without amendment.
Chair: It has been moved by Ms. McPhee that the Chair report Bill No. 203, entitled = First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, without amendment.
Motion agreed to
Chair: As the bill identified in the Order to sit past the normal hour of adjournment has now been decided upon by Committee of the Wh= ole, it is my duty to rise and report to the House.
Speaker resumes the Chair
Speaker: I will now call the House to order.
May the House have a repo= rt from the Chair of Committee of the Whole?
Chair’=
;s
report
Mr. Hutton: Mr. Speaker, Committee of the Whole has considered Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, and directed to me to report the bill = without amendment.
Speaker: You have heard the report from the Chair of Committee of the Whole.
Are you agreed?
Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Speaker: I declare the report carried.
Bill No.&nb=
sp;203: First Appropriation Act 2020‑21<=
/i>
— Third Reading
Clerk: Third reading of Bill No. 203, standing in the name of the Hon. Mr. Silver.
Speaker: The support staff can come into the gallery if y= ou distance yourself.
Hon. Mr. Silver: I move that Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 20= 20‑21, be now read a third time and do pass.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Hon. Premier that = Bill No. 203, entitled First Appropriation Act 2020‑21, be now read a third time and do pass.<= /p>
Hon. Mr. Silver: I have a really long speech he= re, but seeing as how everybody is extremely tired and we have worked an extrem= ely long day together, I just want to say thank you to every MLA in the House f= or their diligence in getting us past the main budget in this extraordinary am= ount of time in extraordinary circumstances.
I want to thank the suppo= rt staff from all of the different political parties who are joining us here today in the gallery with social distancing in mind. Thank you for all of your hard work, your diligence, and your service to Yukon. These will be the moments = that you remember for the rest of your life. You have all done extremely good wo= rk, and I really am proud of everybody in the political offices.
To Hansard, above and bey= ond, we all — I know that I speak on behalf of all MLAs, and I am sure that t= he other leaders are going to want to have their say as well, but I tell you — we know that this has been a trying time for you, and we really appreciate your efforts not only for us as MLAs but for all Yukoners.
To the Clerk’s offi= ce, and to yours as well, Mr. Speaker, thank you for your patience in getting = us to where we are, and to all my colleagues, ministers, backbenchers, and MLA= s on both sides, thank you.
We are definitely in inte= resting times, Mr. Speaker. I urge everyone now to go back to their ridings and work with their elders, work with their community, make sure the people are safe, and provide the leadership that I know you all will.
Mr. Cathers: In rising to speak to this at third reading, I would note that the world and the Yukon are facing a serious iss= ue with the declared pandemic. In times like this, it is not business as usual. Extraordinary times do require action. While we do disagree with a number of the choices that the government has made in their budget, we have also agre= ed to focus on the big picture, because times like this require setting aside partisanship and working together to support the response to the pandemic. = That is why we reached an all-party agreement to expedite debate on the budget. = This will also allow departments to focus on pandemic response and not be distra= cted by supporting ministers in the Legislative Assembly.
I just want to thank ever= yone who is working in pandemic response, including: officials and staff in every government department; hospitals and staff; physicians, nurses, and health professionals across the territory; Emergency Medical Services staff and volunteers; other first responders, including fire and police; municipal and First Nation leaders; staff in the federal government, as well as people in= the private sector and non-governmental organizations; and, last but not least, individual Yukoners who are doing their part, taking action and making sacr= ifices to ensure that, as a territory, we are responding in the best way that we c= an to the threat posed by the COVID‑19 pandemic.
This is a time to remain = calm but also to take action. Please follow the advice of public health officials and avoid unnecessarily buying goods that other people may need. By working together, the Yukon can minimize both the health and economic impacts.
On behalf of the Official Opposition, I would like to thank everyone who is part of this effort for t= he Yukon and, of course, thank those who have supported us in sitting later th= is evening so that the budget could be passed and so that department staff, hospitals, and others can focus on responding to this pandemic.
Ms. White: It is hard to imagine when we got called = back in on March 5 that this is where we would be on March 19. It is hard to ima= gine between this week and last week the changes that have happened.
You know, this is not bus= iness as usual. Right now, our grocery store clerks are heroes. Our janitorial staff= are heroes. We have people who never would have been viewed as front line who a= re now being viewed as front line.
We thank all of those on = the front lines from the hospitals to the nursing staff to those in Community Services working on the pandemic response to EMO. We want to especially thank those = who may not view themselves in the positions right now that they are in — like I said, those at the grocery stores and those stocking the shelves. We thank the Hansard staff, because if it’s 600 degrees in this room, it= ’s probably 1,200 degrees in that room.
Mr. Speaker, take ca= re. We look forward to better days.
Speaker: If the member now speaks, he will close debate. =
Does any other member wis= h to be heard on third reading of Bill No. 203?
Hon. Mr. Silver: Thank you to the members oppos= ite for their comments. Thanks to everybody in the Legislative Assembly. Go hom= e to your loved ones. You’ve all done great work today. Thank you very muc= h.
Speaker: Are you prepared for the question?
Are you agreed?
Some Hon. Members: Division.
Division
Speaker: =
b>Division has been called.
Bells
Speaker: =
b>Mr. Clerk, please poll the House.=
Hon. Mr. Silve=
r: Agree.
Hon. Ms. McPhe=
e: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Pilla=
i: Agree.
Hon. Ms. Dendy=
s: Agree.
Hon. Ms. Frost=
: Agree.
Mr. Gallina: =
Agree.
Mr. Adel: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Mosty=
n: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Strei=
cker: Agree.
Mr. Hutton: <=
/span>Agree.
Mr. Hassard: =
Disagree.
Mr. Kent: Disagree.
Ms. Van Bibber:Q=
95;Disagree.
Mr. Cathers: =
Disagree.
Mr. Istchenko:̳=
5;Disagree.
Ms. White: =
span>Disagree.
Ms. Hanson: <=
/span>Disagree.
Clerk: =
Mr. Speaker, the results are 10 y=
ea,
seven nay.
Speaker: =
b>The yeas have it. I declare the motion
carried.
Motion for third reading of Bill No. 203 agreed to
Speaker: I declare that Bill No. 203 has passed this House.
We are now prepared to re= ceive the Commissioner of Yukon, in her capacity as Lieutenant Governor, to grant assent to the bill which has passed this House.
Commissioner Bernard enters the Chamber announced by Deputy
Sergeant-at-Arms
Assent to Bi=
lls
Commissioner: Please be seated.
Speaker: Madam Commissioner, the Assembly has, at its pre= sent session, passed a bill to which, in the name and on behalf of the Assembly,= I respectfully request your assent.
Clerk: First Appropriation Act 2020‑21.
Commissioner: I hereby assent to the bill as enumerated by the Clerk — so, twice in a week.
I would like to thank you= again for your work over the last two weeks.
Take care of yourselves a= nd each other.
Commissioner leaves the Chamber
Speaker: I will now call the House to order.
Before we adjourn this Si= tting, I have a few brief comments. I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the Speaker — myself — the Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole, and on behalf of all Members of the Legislative Assembly to the Clerk Dan Cable, Deputy Clerk Linda Kolody, Clerk of Commit= tees Allison Lloyd, Director of Administration, Finance and Systems Helen Fitzsi= mmons, Operations Manager Brenda McCain-Armour, Finance and Operations Clerk Lynds= ey Amundson, as well as Sergeant-at-Arms Karina Watson and Deputy Sergeant-at-= Arms Terry Grabowski, who all provided invaluable support to all MLAs and t= heir staff in order for all of us to continue to do the important work that we a= re sent here to do on behalf of all Yukoners.
As well, I would also lik= e to take this opportunity to thank the skilled team at Hansard, the pages, and = all the other background staff and contractors who keep this operation going. <= /p>
I would also commend the hard-working civil servants who deliver services to Yukoners, particularly = at this time, and support to all of us, as members in our work.
This is an especially try= ing time for Yukoners, and I want to assure all of our constituents in our beautiful territory, from Old Crow to Carcross and from Beaver Creek to Watson Lake, = that all members of this House have you in our thoughts, and we are all prepared= to do whatever it takes to get through these challenging times.
Yukoners are resilient fo= lk, and I know that we will continue to help and support each other in the next wee= ks and months. Indeed, I have immense confidence that we will emerge from this period of uncertainty and concern as an even stronger tight-knit community = of relatives, friends, work colleagues, teammates, and neighbours. I encourage= all Yukoners to continue to be kind and generous and to assist those less fortu= nate wherever and whenever possible.
Thank you very much.
Adjournment of Sitting per speci= al adjournment Order
Speaker: Pursuant to the special adjourn=
ment Order
adopted earlier today, this House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m.,
Thursday, October 1, 2020.
The House adjourned at 9=
:29
p.m.
The
following legislative return was tabled March 19, 2020:
Respon= se to oral question from Mr. Kent re: French immersion enrolment (McPhee)
<= !--[if supportFields]> PAGE 1 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; HANSARD &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; March 19, 2020
M= arch 19, 2020 &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = HANSARD &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; 1