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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Monday, April 17, 2023 — 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
We wil= l proceed at this time with prayers.
Prayers
Withdrawal
of motions
Speaker: The= Chair wishes to inform the House of changes made to the Order Paper. Motion No.&n= bsp;693, notice of which the Member for Copperbelt South gave last Thursday, was not placed on today’s Notice Paper at the request of the member.= p>
Daily
Routine
Speaker: We = will proceed at this time with the Order Paper.
Introd= uction of visitors.
Introduction
of Visitors
Mr. Ca=
thers: I would like to welcome t=
oday a
number of guests in the gallery who are here for the tribute to Larry =
Carlyle:
first, his wife and daughter, Monique and Cathrina,
as well as long-time friends Gord and Anita Ste=
ele
and other friends and former colleagues of Larry’s, Geri and Craig Tuton, Carl Schulze, Fearon Steele, Warren Holland, C=
hris
Young, Ginny Macdonald, Mel Brais, Grant Allen,=
Rory Wadham,
Jonas Smith, Jon Preston, Lila McConnell, and Linda Dixon. If I have missed
anyone, my apologies for that.
Applause
Speaker:=
195;Tributes.
TRIBUTES
In remembrance of Larry C= arlyle
Mr. Ca=
thers: I rise today to pay tribu=
te to a
proud Yukoner, Larry Carlyle. I should note that this tribute is on behalf =
of
the Assembly. Larry was a geologist, prospector, husband, father, grandfath=
er,
brother, and a dear friend to many.
Larry passed away in Whitehorse on Nov=
ember
27, 2022 at the Wind River Hospice House at the age of 77. Larry’s wi=
fe,
Monique, daughter, Cathrina, and lifelong frien=
ds Gord and Anita Steele are in the gallery. I would als=
o like
to acknowledge and thank Gord for his help in w=
riting
this tribute. Larry’s son, Darren, daughter-in-law, Tiffany, grandson,
Aiden, and granddaughter, Sophia, are in Victoria.
Larry was known in his high school day=
s as
one of the “three musketeers” that included Sean Thibault and
Gordon Steele. Larry, Sean, and Gordon all started out together in the
mid-1950s going to the Whitehorse Elementary High School. They transferred =
to
the new F.H. Collins High School in 1963 and were part of the graduating cl=
ass
in 1964. All three took grade 13 at F.H. Collins in 1965 and then went out
together to the University of British Columbia the following year.
Larry wanted to become a geologist and
enroled in a bachelor of science program. The three didn’t quite fit =
the
“starving student” program as, after spending a year on the
Receiving word from Sean that he was g=
etting
married in Switzerland in October 1970, Larry and Gord=
decided to conduct a whirlwind tour of Europe with a stop in Switzerland to
attend Sean and Elsbeth’s wedding. The stop was prophetic because it =
was
at Sean’s wedding that Larry met his bride‑to‑be, =
Monique.
Larry = and Monique were married in Nidau, Switzerland on J= anuary 23, 1971. Larry and Monique have two children, Cathrin= a of Whitehorse and Darren of Victoria. Darren and his wife, Tiffany, have a = son, Aiden, and a daughter, Sofia, making Larry and Monique grandparents. Aiden = is graduating this spring and Larry was looking forward to attending his graduation. We know that Larry will be there in spirit.
Larry = never forgot his own school colleagues and was an active member of the committees that organized the F.H. Collins school reunions in 1985 and 2015. Larry was a dedicated geologist, prospector, and miner. He worked for United Keno Hill Mines and Elsa for many years. As a member and director of the Yukon Prospectors Association, Larry was interested in preserving and recording t= he history of Yukon prospectors and miners who contributed so much to the econ= omic development of the territory.
He was= also deeply interested in Yukon’s political development. Larry served as a Yukon Party caucus researcher for many years and participated directly in numerous territorial and federal elections. I can personally attest to this= as Larry helped me in my Lake Laberge campaigns. He also served for a while on= the Yukon Party’s Lake Laberge board of directors and as president of the Yukon Party. Larry spent many days during multiple elections going door-knocking with me and volunteered his time as a scrutineer on election = day to help ensure the integrity of the democratic process. I appreciated all of Larry’s help over the many years. My sister Jeni= nne and my mom also asked me to pass on their condolences. We all enjoyed worki= ng with him and will miss him.
Larry = spent his final days surrounded by family and friends. Monique, = Cathrina, and Darren kept friends and family apprised of Larry’s medical condit= ion and helped arrange visitations. Sean Thibeault was = in constant contact by phone from Switzerland while Shannon Thibeault was in constant contact by phone from Ontario. In the final update of Larry’s condition, Darren Carlyle wrote on Sunday, November 27 that d= ad crossed the finish line at 5:45 p.m. May God bless.
Applause
Speaker: Are= there any returns or documents for tabling?
Are th= ere any reports of committees?
Reports
of Committees
Mr. Dixon: I have for presentation the Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Pub= lic Accounts.
Speaker: Are= there any further reports of committees?
Are th= ere any petitions to be presented?
Are th= ere any bills to be introduced?
Are th= ere any notices of motions?
Notices
of Motions
Hon. Mr. Pillai: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House acknowledges Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, as a day of commemoration for the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution.
Ms. Van Bibber: I rise today to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon to work together= to ensure that any pending strike action by Canada Revenue Agency workers does= not unduly harm small businesses by taking action including the following:
(1) ma= intaining full service to small businesses during negotiations or if a strike is triggered;
(2) en= suring clear communication of small business owners’ responsibilities in the context of a strike; and
(3) co= nsidering delay of tax deadlines to ensure that businesses do not receive penalties a= nd interest because of a possible work stoppage.
Ms. White: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to install advanced warning lights along the Alaska Highway for the traffic lights at the intersections at Robert Service Way, Hillcrest Drive, and Range Road.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to work with the RCMP M Division to ensure th= at the Yukon emergency alert system is employed in all situations of heightened public threat.
Speaker: Is = there a statement by a minister?
Ministerial
Statement
Car
867
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I rise today to provide an update on Car 867, the mobile crisis response team that has been diligently providing vital assistance to those experiencing mental health crises in Whitehorse.
The establishment of this innovative response team marked a significant step forward in delivering essential support to Yukoners experiencing mental hea= lth challenges.
From p= lanning to implementation, this initiative represents significant collaboration and dedication. I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the RCMP a= nd to the team at Health and Social Services who have worked together to make = this a reality. This unwavering commitment has been crucial in the success of Car 867.
In jus= t a short period, Car 867 has already made a profound impact on our community. Since = it launched six months ago, the team has addressed 177 mental health-related calls. Each call is unique and the outcomes vary. In some cases, individuals are treated in real time and planning can occur for safe next steps. In oth= ers, individuals may be apprehended or referred to care from Health and Social Services and non-governmental organizations.
In all= cases, this holistic approach has put people at the forefront of our mental health emergency response, showcasing the importance of trauma-informed, client-centred responses and creating safer experiences with law enforcemen= t. This has allowed us to address mental health issues more effectively, preve= nt crisis situations, and develop tailored solutions for those in need. Car 867 produced numerous community benefits and improved the lives of many Yukoner= s.
By tea= ming up a registered psychiatric nurse with an RCMP officer, the program has been abl= e to provide enhanced services and appropriate health care referrals during an R= CMP response. This innovative strategy ensures that those experiencing mental health emergencies receive the appropriate resources and support, promoting their well-being and fostering a healthier community. This collaborative ef= fort has truly made a difference in the lives of many community members. Car 867 represents a significant milestone that we have reached together toward building a more compassionate and effective response to mental health issue= s.
It is = important that Yukoners are aware of this progress as it impacts each and every one of us. Our continued work to build on the success of Car 867 contributes to a brighter, safer future for all of us across the territory.
Mr. Cathers: Late last month, the Yukon government provided an update to the media about this program and the number of calls that it has responded to. It appears that t= he only new piece of information in the minister’s statement today is an update on those numbers from four weeks ago. Beyond that minor update, it d= oes not appear that there is much to respond to in this statement.
I will= conclude by tabling the Yukon News artic= le from March 23, 2023 about this.
Ms. Blake: Last month, in March, there was an update published in the Yukon News. This ministerial statement appears to be just a rep= eat of some of the same information. There was actually more information availa= ble in the news article than this statement.
In the= news article, we learned that Car 867 is not available in the evenings or on weekends. When we see that since March 9 there have been 65 more calls, we wonder who is being missed on weekends and in the evenings. We do have some questions that we hope the minister can answer.
Is the= re a follow-up protocol in place for individuals who are attended to by Car 867? What resources are made available to these individuals? What I would really like to talk about are the communities and the mental health supports avail= able to them. We continue to see increasing numbers in the communities around me= ntal health issues, suicide, drug poisoning, and deaths. These are crises that a= re not going away. When can communities expect to see consistent mental health workers, including mental health nurses, in their communities?
While = it is good to see this program in operation and we do appreciate the work of this team= in Whitehorse, there is much more to do here in Whitehorse and in the communit= ies.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I am going to take just a second to make a reference to Standi= ng Order 11(3.1). The members opposite seem to be under the mistaken understan= ding that ministerial statements have to be some sort of new or never-heard-befo= re concepts. It actually states in Standing Order 11(4) that “̷= 0; a member who has been designated as a Cabinet Commissioner may make an announcement or statement related to his or her Commission.” There is= no reference whatsoever to something being new.
I have= an opportunity here and I have taken it today to speak to Yukoners about this important program, and I think that not only is it legitimate, it’s an important aspect of the practice of both the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice to make Yukoners aware of this servi= ce.
The pu= rpose of the statement today is to provide this update to Yukoners about Car 867. It= is important that the public receives information from leaders and from the fl= oor of this Legislative Assembly that is factual and accurate and, in particula= r, gives them information that they might not otherwise know or they may not h= ave access to. It directly affects the lives of Yukoners. Car 867 is also a response to the substance use health emergency.
Today = is also an opportunity to share the effectiveness of using a people-centred approach to addressing mental health issues — something that we are trying to pro= vide education about — knowledge, harm-reduction approaches, the opportuni= ty to have a people-centred approach and a compassionate approach.
As gov= ernment, we take the issue of mental health matters very seriously and we recognize = that mental health emergencies can have serious and long-lasting impacts on individuals, families, and communities, and the way in which those emergenc= ies are responded to by compassionate, specially trained police officers and psychiatric nurses is a critical element of this project. That is why we ha= ve invested in a range of initiatives to support mental health and well-being across the Yukon, including the emergency services such as Car 867.<= /p>
Local = data from the past six months, as I have noted, highlights the positive impact of this strategy. The success of this approach is also supported by data from other jurisdictions showing its effectiveness in reducing hospitalizations for me= ntal health assessment and freeing both hospital and police resources. Early intervention with mental health issues also helps to divert people away from the criminal justice system and from the hospital systems. These are critic= al services that can be provided as a result of this service.
Our go= vernment is committed to investing in mental health services and supports and to wor= king closely with community partners in all ways to help ensure that individuals= who are experiencing mental health emergencies have access to care and to suppo= rt.
I woul= d also like to show Yukoners that we are listening to their concerns and taking the steps to address them. We have heard about the opportunity and operation of= Car 867-type initiatives in other places and we have worked to make it available here in the Yukon. Mental health is a top priority for our government and we are committed to continuing to invest in mental health services and support= s to address the needs of Yukoners.
We are= listening to concerns raised by the public and we are committed to working together to address the challenges and the gaps that exist.
Speaker: Thi= s then brings us to Question Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: Energy= capital project commitments
Mr. Kent: So, in a Facebook post on his way to Roundup on January 21 of this year, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources announced a massive new government priority. He said that the Premier had just asked him to start a conversati= on on connecting Yukon’s electricity grid to BC. The commitment then appeared in the minister’s mandate letter on March 2.
Despit= e the supposed commitment, the current budget and five-year capital plan contain = no mention of a grid connection and allocate no money to this work. The government’s most important expression of its policies — the bu= dget speech — also made no mention of it.
So, ho= w does the minister expect to meet his mandate to update the previous cost estimates a= nd early engineering work without any money allocated to this work?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: The first place we started was going to the Yukon Forum= and talking with First Nations. Both the Premier and I spoke about this importa= nt issue. So, we are laying that groundwork.
Meanwh= ile, the Yukon Development Corporation, the Yukon Energy Corporation, and Energy, Mi= nes and Resources are working to advance the conversation with the Government of Canada at our regional roundtable on renewable energy and infrastructure. T= hat conversation is underway as well. It’s about making sure that the pro= ject is coordinated with partnerships first and then we will do the technical wo= rk, but the part of this where we will start is on the relationship side and ma= king sure that this project starts off in a good way.
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;So, when the minister issued that new policy announcement via Facebook on Janua= ry 21, the timing raised some eyebrows. It was almost exactly five years to the day after the now Premier made the exact same commitment at the exact same conference. At that time, the then-EMR minister= said that the Liberals were going to refine the cost estimates and update the engineering work. The only problem is that they didn’t budget any substantial money for that work, and almost nothing happened.
So, Mr= . Speaker, it’s turning into Groundhog Day. What assurances can the minister giv= e us that he will have more success than the failed efforts of his predecessor, = the now Premier?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Groundhog Day — or at least a horrible try to make it Groundhog Day by the member opposite.
In 201=
8, we took
a flawed process that the Yukon Party had left. There was a study done, and=
it
was an idea of selling energy from the Yukon to British Columbia. Of course,
there was an inability to get the projects that they were focused on starte=
d or
completed. I sat down with our team at the Yukon Development Corporation. We
hired a company called Midguard. We took a look=
at
re-engineering the idea, which was to purchase energy from British Columbia=
. At
that particular time, BC Hydro had no interest. Governments had changed in
British Columbia.
There = was a lot of debt load at that time, we were told, as BC Hydro wanted to focus on the= ir infrastructure and their business model. So, the difference now is that BC Hydro has come to the table and said that they want to have this discussion. The Premier of British Columbia has come to the table and said that they wa= nt to have this discussion, and we see investment across the country that is b= eing put in place for larger projects like this. So, we think that things have changed.
Again,= the member opposite knows full well — it is a good narrative but, again, = not factual at all. So, it will be good to see in question 3 if the member oppo= site will get back up and continue to share items that aren’t factual, but= it wouldn’t surprise me.
Mr. Kent: So, there is quite a disturbing trend developing for the current Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources. So many of the initiatives that he is working = on now are jobs that were left undone by his predecessor — from the Beav= er River land use plan to mining in municipalities and now the BC grid connect= ion.
About = a year after the Premier announced that the government wanted to connect to the BC grid, he did an about-face. In the 2019 Spring Sitting, he announced that t= hey were ruling the project out. He said — quote: “What we made a decision on was, instead of submitting an application to do further work af= ter our discussions with BC Hydro, we have submitted an application for a large battery.”
So, wh= at assurances can the current Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources give Yukoners that this project won’t end up like so many of the other promises of his predecessor — all talk and no action?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Mr. Speaker, here is the difference. The difference is th= at we are interested in renewable energy projects like the grid-scale batteries, = like connecting to the BC grid, like wind here in town, like solar projects acro= ss the territory. We are interested in those projects, and we will support communities and First Nations as they lead them through the independent pow= er producer policy and through the Innovative Renewable Energy Initiative, whi= ch the members opposite didn’t want to talk about during a ministerial s= tatement because maybe they are tired of renewable energy.
In the= ir platform, their idea is to build a diesel plant; that is not a good idea. W= hen it comes to land use planning, yes, we will do the hard work and we wonR= 17;t repeat the Peel plan. That ended up in the Supreme Court. The Yukon Party g= ot the Yukon into the Supreme Court.
We wil= l work with communities, with First Nations, with Yukoners to develop plans. Yes, = they are hard to do, but we are getting it done.
Question
re: Diesel generators
Mr. Dixon: The Premier’s decision to halt work on the BC grid connection wasn’t the only decision made in 2019 that has resulted in our current energy shortfall. The Premier also supported the decision to cancel the developmen= t of a permanent 20-megawatt electricity generating facility and therefore consi= gned Yukon to its current fate, which, of course, is renting diesel generators to make up our dependable energy gap.
On Oct= ober 9, 2019, the Premier told the Legislature that he thought that renting diesel generators was — quote: “… a good investment.” Does= the Premier still think that renting diesel generators instead of owning our own generating facilities is a good investment?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I was in this Assembly on the day when we had the witnesses he= re from Yukon Energy Corporation and Yukon Development Corporation and when the members opposite asked the question about what was cheaper — whether = it was cheaper to have rented diesels or permanent diesels. I heard them say t= hat, actually, the rented diesels came out slightly cheaper, but it was virtually the same price. The difference is that if you build the diesel plant and you then build renewables, you end up with a diesel plant that you don’t always need. So, we will do the pathway that will support renewables.
The me= mbers opposite aren’t interested in renewables. I heard the members opposit= e in debate this past fall say that they support oil and gas. I think that the q= uote was: The Yukon Party supports oil and gas.
No, we= are interested in moving off of fossil fuels. We think that is the past. We thi= nk that’s the wrong direction completely. We want to move to renewables = and to a sustainable future.
Mr. Dixon: The minister may want to move to renewables, but all he has done is move us to = more rental diesels.
When t= he Premier decided to cancel work on connecting our grid to BC back in 2019, he said t= hat the alternative was the battery project. As we know, that project is alread= y at least a year late and millions of dollars overbudget. That battery project = only stands to displace up to four of the 17 currently rented diesel generators.=
We rec= ently heard from multiple sources that the Yukon Energy Corporation is planning to procure an additional five rental diesel generators this year. That would b= ring our total to 22. Can the minister confirm whether or not this is accurate? = Is the Yukon Energy Corporation currently sourcing five additional rental dies= els for 2023?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Yes, we will have more rented diesels this winter, and the rea= son we will have more rented diesels is because the role of having backup diesel generators has changed. There is a formula that is used. It is all very transparent and very public.
This i=
s the way
in which it is calculated to make sure that we have enough backup. I will t=
ell
you, Mr. Speaker, that the battery project will displace four diesel
generators, but building a diesel plant will not displace diesel generators=
. I
don’t know how the Yukon Party thinks that it is different diesel goi=
ng
into rented diesels versus a permanent diesel plant; it is the same diesel =
that
goes in there. You are not going to get away that way. What you need to do =
is
to build renewables — renewables like the grid-scale battery, which w=
ill
displace, and like the Watson Lake solar project, the Beaver Creek solar
project, the Old Crow solar project, the Dawson solar project, wind up on
Haeckel Hill, and wind in Kluane. Those
are renewable projects. They will help to displace the fossil fuels that we=
are
using, not building a new diesel plant.
Mr. Dixon: I am pleased to hear from the minister that he is confirming that we will indeed= see additional rental diesels this coming year — up to five more, putting= us to well over 20 rented diesel generators.
Since = 2016, we have seen the Liberal government steadily increase our reliance on rented diesel generators. It started with four, then six; it is 17 today and, as it seems from the minister today, it could grow to well over 20. Meanwhile, ev= ery single project that the Liberals have banked on to displace those rented diesels is late, overbudget or, in some cases, unclear about whether or not they will go ahead at all.
Can th= e minister tell us what year the Yukon will no longer need to rent diesel generators? =
Hon. Mr. Streicker: The Yukon is an islanded electricity grid, so we use a = lot of hydro, and even though we have been growing the fastest in Canada — this year was 93 p= ercent renewables, mostly hydro, and some — 7 percent — wa= s LNG or diesels. That’s despite the fact that we are growing.
And we= legislated — the Yukon Party voted against that legislation to have targets, but= we put that in and they are not interested in that. So, we have renewables. We= are going to grow with renewables. So, at what year will we have no diesel back= up or LNG backup? No, we are always going to need diesel and LNG backup, becau= se even if and when we build the grid connect to British Columbia, you have to= be prepared in case that grid connect goes down. You always need to have that backup and we will continue to have that backup.
The me= mbers opposite give this narrative — they refer to them as “dirty die= sel generators”, but they are the same generators whether you rent or own them.
Question
re: Security services
MLA Tredger: The private security firm Neptune Security Services Inc. came under fire recent= ly over concerns that a prominent executive in the company was using multiple identities. The federal government has barred this company from obtaining n= ew contracts until further notice and terminated a number of contracts already= in place. Other jurisdictions put Neptune under investigation and are reviewing their contracts with this company. Here in the Yukon, Neptune Security Serv= ices holds a number of contracts with this government, including security for Yu= kon Housing buildings.
Does t= he minister have a plan to address the security concerns with Neptune Security Services?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: We have just become aware of this particular situation. I know= that the Minister of Community Services is going to speak to the relationship wi= th the organization, but I just want to say to Yukoners that, whether it is at= the very grassroots level — what I mean is the new cameras and security t= hat we have put into our buildings. Again, we have talked here in the House abo= ut how we make sure that first responders have access to our buildings. This is always top of mind.
I know= that I spoke with the president of Yukon Housing this morning. They had gone and actually done site visits last week to a number of our buildings. So, I thi= nk that just before we get into more of the contractual relationships, I just want = to state to Yukoners that we are continuously improving our security in our Yu= kon Housing infrastructure. It is paramount for us to make sure that our clients — the Yukoners who are using those buildings — are safe and feel safe.
Question
re: Opioid crisis
Ms. Blake: Over the weekend, Yukoners faced another wave of drug-poisoning deaths. Sadly, t= he government is not acting fast enough on making safer supply available to everyone across the Yukon. Right now, people in rural Yukon still don’= ;t have access to safer supply of opioids from a medical professional, which i= s a proven way to reduce overdoses and save lives.
We hav= e asked this government countless times and so have Yukoners: When will safer suppl= y be available in rural Yukon?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Our government is committed to working with our partners to re= spond to the substance use health emergency, which includes increasing access to safer supply.
Offeri= ng Yukoners an alternative to illegal and unregulated drug supply, known as “safer supply”, is just one action we are taking to respond to = the substance use health emergency.
We are= working with experts to ensure that we can expand access to safer supply in the Yuk= on as safely and efficiently as possible. It is one of the topics that we had extensive conversations about a week or two ago; I guess it was about two w= eeks ago when Minister Bennett was here. It is one of the key priorities to prov= ide safer substances that can be used by individuals who are trying to change t= heir lives with respect to potential addictions to other types of drugs.<= /p>
We are= committed to working with our partners and all levels of government to increase the outreach services through nursing and social supports for all people who use illicit substances. I will be pleased to continue to respond.
Ms. Blake: Harm reduction saves lives, and we have already seen this happening here in Whitehorse. In two months alone, the supervised consumption site responded = to 24 overdoses and prevented deaths, but people living in rural communities don’t have access to these same life-saving services. We have had so = many losses that we can’t afford to wait any longer. We, alongside thousan= ds of Yukoners, are asking that this government do the right thing and make sa= fer supply available in communities.
Will t= he minister please tell Yukoners when safer supply will be available in their communities?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: In order to further expand the scope of safer supply, the depa= rtment is working with addictions medicine specialists in British Columbia to deve= lop and provide clinical training and prescribing guidelines for physicians in = the Yukon.
We are= improving access to safer supply as more personnel are hired to provide wraparound services to help ensure that clients accessing safer supply through the opi= oid treatment services have the supports that they require.
Expand= ing safer supply into communities outside of Whitehorse will be one element of the upcoming substance use health emergency strategy. Work is underway on this strategy. We recently presented it to the chiefs at the Yukon Forum and are following up for feedback at the highest level of their governments.=
The ex= pansion of safer supply is not limited to the safe supply of opioids. The department is also exploring options to provide safer supply of other illicit substances = such as stimulants to help individuals.
The pr= ocess at this point requires access to pharmaceutical distribution and a prescription from medical professionals. We have individuals who are being trained to provide that service and expand it through the Yukon.
Question
re: Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport runway project
Mr. Hassard: Since we last asked questions of the Minister of Highways and Public Works about = the airport tender last week, we have received even more feedback and questions from Yukon contractors. The minister was reluctant to provide any meaningful answers to our questions last week, so I would like to give him another cha= nce to answer some important questions about this project. Several contractors = who have bids involved in this tender have raised concerns about the ongoing de= lays in awarding this contract. For many contractors, bids on this tender have t= ied up their bonding, so it limits their ability to bid on other work. They have told us that the absolute lack of communication from the government is a big problem.
Can th= e minister tell Yukoners when this contract will be awarded or, if not, tell us why th= ere is such a delay?
Hon. Mr. Clarke: The member opposite will know that the tender is still within = the deadline period, although I certainly accept the member opposite’s concerns with respect to this matter being dealt with in a timely manner, a= nd it will be. The tender to reconstruct the main runway was advertised on Oct= ober 12, 2022 and closed on February 22, 2023.
The de= partment is still working through the evaluation process and, as such, cannot provide additional information at this time. The three qualified bidders have been = sent notices to extend the irrevocability period by an additional 30 days, which= is part of the contract and tender documents. We will update the parties invol= ved, including the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and= Ta’an Kwäch’&au= ml;n Council, once we have information that we can share on this project.=
We do = expect to be able to provide this update in the near future and certainly hope to be proceeding with more information to the three qualified bidders in advance = of the expiration of the additional 30-day period.
Mr. Hassard: I appreciate the fact that the minister has actually now provided us with the information that it will be extended by 30 days, so maybe he could tell us = why they had to do that.
Hon. Mr. Clarke: As I said last week, the Government of Yukon is making crucial investments to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of Yukoners wi= th safe and reliable aviation infrastructure for years to come. A number of improvements to the air side of the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International A= irport are needed to replace aging infrastructure and to keep the airport up to standard. This work will ensure that the airport can support the current and future airport operations.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, the improvements include work on the main runway, upgrading the parallel runway, developing airport land for commercial uses, and replacing the apron panels, which, as the House knows, were the subject of substandard work in = 2014 and then resulted in litigation, which has just been resolved. I can say th= at I had the opportunity to do a tour of the whole parallel runway, main runway,= and apron area in September of last year and certainly saw the apron panel work being completed at that time. It is now complete. I certainly thank those contractors for the solid work that has been done to remedy a problem that started with a prior government.
While = bidders are still awaiting the outcome of the tender to reconstruct the main runway= , we expect to be able —
Speaker: Ord= er, please.
Mr. Hassard: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was certainly hoping that the minister would have = been able to provide an explanation as to why it was necessary to extend; howeve= r, I will move on.
The Liberals’ current five-year capital concept shows this project costin= g up to $130 million and completing construction in the 2025-26 budget year. Tha= t is a significant change from the 2022-23 capital concept, which included up to $160 million and showed the project being completed in 2026-27. So, by= all accounts, the tender that the government is currently sitting on is likely substantially overbudget.
So, ca= n the minister confirm whether the amount budgeted in the current five-year capit= al concept is still accurate, and when can Yukoners expect this project to actually be completed?
Hon. Mr. Clarke: I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the contractors and subcontractors with respect to the great work that was done on the parallel runway last year. As I indicated in Question Period last week, I believe, we anticipate that the parallel runway will be operational shortly — par= t of the entire plan of rehabilitation of the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse Internatio= nal Airport.
As I a= lso indicated last week, some of the infrastructure at the Erik Nielsen Whiteho= rse International Airport is from the Second World War, once again, the theme b= eing that there is an infrastructure deficit in the territory writ large that was inherited from the prior three Yukon Party majority governments between 2002 and 2016.
We are= doing the hard work; whether it is the Nisutlin Bay bridge, whether it is Dempster fi= bre, whether it is the Old Territorial Administration Building, whether it is the Pelly pool, whether it is the Carmacks Recreation Centre, whether it is the various solar projects, w= e are getting this work done.
Question
re: Greenhouse gas emissions
MLA Tredger: = ;To have a fighting chance against climate change, we need to keep global warming be= low 1.5 degrees. Experts have told us that, in order to do that, global carbon emissions need to be reduced by 45 percent by 2030. That’s why t= he Yukon NDP negotiated a 45-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions with this government.
The Cl=
imate
Leadership Council — a gro=
up of
dedicated Yukoners with a wide range of experience — made a plan
specifically fitted to our territory to help us get it there. They delivered
their plan eight months ago. Since then, we have learned almost nothing from
this government. We don’t know if the recommendations will be accepte=
d or
if that plan will be adopted. Every time we ask about it, the minister tell=
s us
that the recommendations won’t get us all the way to 45 percent,
like that justifies not acting at all. So, I would like to ask for more
details. How close would those recommendations get us? If we fully implement
all of the Climate Leadership Council’s recommendations, how close to=
a
45-percent reduction would we be?
Hon. M=
r. Streicker: Mr. Speaker, after o=
ur last
exchange in the Assembly, I asked the departments to go back and to put the
numbers together so that I could bring it together as a legislative return.=
It
is underway, but I can let Yukoners know that, with the Climate Leadership =
Council’s
recommendations, if all of them are completed, we get to a 30-percent
reduction.
MLA Tredger: Well,
30 percent sounds a lot better than what we have right now, because th=
is
government simply doesn’t have a plan to get us to a 45-percent
reduction. The minister keeps saying, and just said again, that the Climate
Leadership Council’s recommendations don’t get us all the way,<=
span
style=3D'mso-bidi-font-style:italic'> only to 30 percent. That is actu=
ally a
reason to implement all of their recommendations because we need them all a=
nd
then more.
Instead, we are starting to hear conce= rning language from the Liberals. The Minister of Environment described a key recommendation from the Climate Leadership Council as “significantly ambitious.” The implication seemed to be th= at it was too ambitious, and I hope I’m wrong in that interpretation; I hope that this government will correct me today.
Will t= he minister stop avoiding the issue and say today that, yes, the government wi= ll respect the work of the Climate Leadership Council and implement all of the= ir recommendations?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I hope that we have always said that we respect the work of the Climate Leadership Council; we do respect the work of the Climate Leadership Council. What I have said always is that the number that was presented need= ed to be measured by the same methodology that we’re measuring all of the work to reduce emissions across the territory. We have a strong climate plan called Our Clean Future. We will integrate the work of the Climate Leadership Council into that plan. We sat with the Climate Leadership Council. We worked through some of the modellin= g to estimate the amount of reductions. We talked with them about how we would integrate it. We divided it out into those actions we could take immediatel= y, those that would take more diligence in measurements, and those that would = take procurement and budgeting processes. In fact, we also said that to the memb= er opposite in meetings to go over how we were going to do this, and we commit= ted to getting that into the next round. Our Clean Future gets updated each and every year and we adapt the actions = all the time.
So, I = thank the Climate Leadership Council again for their great work. No, it is not enough= to get us to the target that we wish to get to, but we are going to continue t= hat work.
MLA Tredger: What was notably missing from that answer was a commitment to implementing all of their recommendations. So, here is the situation: The minister assembled a panel of dedicated Yukoners and asked them to spend nearly a year developing recommendations for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, but he won’= ;t commit to following their recommendations and he won’t show us any pl= an to reach our climate targets.
Despit= e the fact that it has been two years since this government committed to a 45-percent reduction, he won’t even give us a timeline for an implementation plan that gets us all the way there. He has already said it won’t be ready= for August this year, so I guess he is just going to keep hoping that, without doing any of the work or making any of the tough decisions, we will magical= ly arrive at the target he has committed to.
So, wh= en will this government have an implementation plan for reducing the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Mr. Speaker, that feels disrespectful to the group of peo= ple — for example, at Energy, Mines and Resources’ Energy branch; f= or example, to the Department of Environment; for example, HPW. We have this whole team that has been dedicated to continue to improve Our Clean Future, and they are wor= king on it right now.
ItR= 17;s not going to be me as the minister or opposition members as critic; it’s going to be these people doing this hard work. We will integrate the recommendations of the Climate Leadership Council into Our Clean Future. That is our commitment. I don’t want to come up with something that says it will be every one in case one of those actions contradicts another action that we are trying to do. But for goodne= ss gracious, we are working very hard. The team on this file, on Our Clean Future, is working ver= y hard to integrate these suggestions into our existing plan and they are working = on how we can go further. They are doing strong work on behalf of all Yukoners= and I think we should be respectful of that work.
Speaker: The= time for Question Period has now elapsed.
We wil= l now proceed to Orders of the Day.
Orders of
the Day
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>Mr. Speaker, I move that the Speaker do now leave the Cha= ir 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
Committee
of the Whole
Chair (Ms. Blake): Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
The ma= tter before the Committee is general debate on Bill No. 27, entitled Community Services Statute Law Amendme= nt Act (2023).
Do mem= bers wish to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Commi= ttee of the Whole will recess for 15 minutes.
Recess
Deputy Chair (MLA Tredger): Bill No. 27:
Community Services Statute Law Amen=
dment
Act (2023) Deputy Chai=
r: The matter before the Com=
mittee
is general debate on Bill No. 27, entitled Community Services Statute Law Amendment Act (2023). Is there any general debate? Hon. M=
r. Mostyn: I am pleased to ri=
se to
speak to Bill No. 27, Community
Services Statute Law Amendment Act (2023). We have with us today the
legislative drafter, Rebecca Veinott, and we al=
so
have Jaime Mellott, who is here to help me this afternoon as we go through =
this
bill. Bill No. 27 supports our
government’s priority to make it easier for people and businesses to =
get
things done when interacting with government. Community Services administers
the Consumers Protection Act, Insurance Act, and Private Investigators and Security Guards Act by issuing licens=
es,
supervising compliance, and responding to complaints. The am=
endments
will affect about 273 businesses and 3,100 individuals currently licensed to
work in collections, insurance, and security services. The amendments in the
bill will modernize licensing requirements and support increasing efficienc=
ies
through online licensing. Community Services is implementing an online
licensing system that is now available for those in security services, real
estate, and health professions licensed by the department. The system will =
be
launched on May 1 for collection agencies, collection agents, and insurers =
and
on July 1 for insurance professionals. Amendments to all three statutes will
support online licensing by replacing affidavits and sworn statements with
declarations that can be made online. Licensing forms will be updated so th=
at
they collect only necessary and appropriate personal information. =
p>
Other =
amendments
are specific to each profession, which I will briefly outline. Collection
agents are in the business of recovering unpaid debts on behalf of lenders =
and
creditors. They are regulated under the Consumers
Protection Act. The act requires collection agents to be registered, but
the regulations establish a licensing scheme. To resolve this discrepancy, =
the
bill will enable regulation amendments to transition from licensing to
registration and will validate the regulations and licensing decisions made
under them. Under =
the Insurance Act, insurance companies,
exchanges, and professionals who conduct business in the Yukon must be lice=
nsed
— the regulated professionals or insurance agents, brokers, special
brokers, salespersons, and adjusters. Amendments to the Insurance Act will remove requirements to collect unnecessary
personal information to align with privacy laws and enhance information
security. They also adopt gender-neutral language since legislation is for
everyone. Last, =
under the Private Investigators and Security Gua=
rds
Act, private investigators, security guards, security consultants, and
burglar alarm agents must be licensed. Amendments to this act will require
individuals applying for an agent’s licence to submit a criminal reco=
rd
check instead of an affidavit of convictions and fingerprints. In addition,
they will remove an outdated citizenship and residency requirement for agen=
cies
and their directors or partners and increase an administrative penalty to d=
eter
non-compliance more effectively. The pr=
ofessions
that these acts regulate have expressed support for our move to online
licensing that the legislative amendments will facilitate. Once the related
regulation amendments and updated forms are completed, we anticipate bringi=
ng the
amending act into force this summer. I look forward to hearing comments =
from
members and responding to questions. Ms. McLeod: I
want to thank the department for the briefing on this bill. We have no
questions for Committee. Ms. White: I
thank the minister and the officials. I’m sure that this will be one =
of
the quickest, most painless debates. One qu=
estion for
clarification I would like is in the explanatory notes in front of the
legislation — the last point on the amendments to the Private Investigators and Security Gua=
rds
Act. It just says: “increase the amount of an administrative pena=
lty
that may be imposed to a maximum of $5,000, to remove the provision that
requires multiple instances of the same violation to be treated as a single
violation and to authorize regulations relating to administrative
penalties.” So, I was hoping that the minister could expand on that. =
In my =
reading,
my understanding is that if there are multiple infractions, instead of them
being coupled together as one and only one maximum penalty, now they can ea=
ch
be treated as individual infractions. I am just looking for clarification.<=
/span> Hon. Mr. Mostyn: To speed discussion this afternoon, that is absolutely correct.
Thanks to the member opposite for the question. Ms. White: I
thank the minister for that. Just a probably — I was going to say
“final”, but it might not be, depending on the minister’s
answer. Were these developed in conjunction with industry professionals? Was
the desire to change the legislation brought forward by them, or were chang=
es
brought forward in keeping with best practices of other jurisdictions? Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I will say that it’s both. It brings it in line with best
practices across the country. So, it modernizes our legislation to reflect =
what
is happening in the rest of the country. We also did meet with industry
representatives in drafting this piece of legislation. So, we met extensive=
ly
with professional agencies across the country and within the Yukon as well.=
Ms. White: I
thank the minister. Of course, I thank the officials who do all the work wi=
th
the consultation and then the drafting. Just based on the responses and the
really fantastic briefing that we got, we have no further questions.=
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Just in closing, I thank the members opposite for their intere=
st in
this bill. We are working to make this a better working environment for all=
the
professions listed in this piece of legislation. I appreciate the comments =
from
the Leader of the Third Party. Chair (Ms. Blake): Is there any further general debate on Bill No. 27, entit=
led Community Services Statute Law Amendme=
nt Act
(2023)? Seeing=
none, we
will now proceed to clause-by-clause. Ms. White: Madam Chair, pursuant
to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of
the Whole to deem all clauses and the title of Bill No. 27, entitled Community Services Statute Law Amendme=
nt Act
(2023), read and agreed to. Unanimous
consent re deeming all clauses and the title of Bill No. 27 read and
agreed to Chair: The M=
ember
for Takhini-Kopper King has, pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, requested the
unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all clauses and the tit=
le
of Bill No. 27, entitled Commu=
nity
Services Statute Law Amendment Act (2023), read and agreed to.=
p>
Is the=
re
unanimous consent? All Hon. Members: Agreed. Chair: Unani=
mous
consent has been granted. Clauses 1 to 43 deemed read and agreed to On Title Title agreed to Chair: The m=
atter
now before the Committee is continuing general debate on Vote 3, Department=
of
Education, in Bill No. 208, entitled First
Appropriation Act 2023-24. Do mem=
bers wish
to take a brief recess? All Hon. Members: Agreed. Chair: Commi=
ttee of
the Whole will recess for 10 minutes. Recess Chair: Commi=
ttee of
the Whole will now come to order. Bill No. 208:
First Appropriation Act 2023-24
— continued Chair:̳=
5;The matter before the Com=
mittee
is continuing general debate on Vote 3, Department of Education, in Bill No=
. 208,
entitled First Appropriation Act 20=
23-24. Department =
of Education
— continued Chair: Is there any furth=
er
general debate? Ms. Wh=
ite: I would just like to take=
the
opportunity to welcome back the minister and the officials to today’s
Education debate. Based on the agreement of my colleague the Member for
Copperbelt South, I will cede the floor to him and he will give it back to =
me
later this afternoon. Mr. Ke=
nt: I wanted to start by welc=
oming
the officials back to support the minister here this afternoon. I do want to
start where I left off last time, which is on some specific questions around
capital projects. The first one is the new school in Burwash Landing. Accor=
ding
to the budget documents for 2023-24, which is the current fiscal year, ther=
e is
$3 million to $4 million budgeted for that project. Can the minis=
ter
give us an update on project design, tendering, and when construction is
expected to start? Hon. Ms. McLean: As
part of our commitment to reconciliation and long-term capital planning for
Yukon schools, we are very pleased to be working in partnership with Kluane
First Nation on Kêts’ádanL=
9;
Kų̀. This is an important project for our government, a commitme=
nt
that we have made, and we are moving the current Kluane school from Destruc=
tion
Bay to Burwash Landing. Again, it has been a long-standing request from Klu=
ane
First Nation. Our go=
vernment
and Kluane First Nation continue to uphold a memorandum of understanding th=
at
outlines a shared commitment to plan and construct a new school in Burwash
Landing. In July 2022, a Yukon asset construction agreement was signed with
Kluane First Nation and will provide benefits to the community through the
construction of the school. We attended Burwash in September 2022 — t=
he
Minister of Highways and Public Works and I, along with other officials =
212;
to speak about the Investing in Canada infrastructure program announcement =
and
for a visit to the new site with Chief Dickson. The co=
nstruction
tender date and the project completion date will be confirmed as we move
forward with the project planning. Those details are not set yet — ot=
her
than this, as I have said, being a priority for our government. The five-ye=
ar
capital plan shows our commitment to this project with allocations througho=
ut
the next several years. The construction tender date will be confirmed subj=
ect
to additional planning. Mr. Kent: I
just wanted to confirm with the minister then, with this $3-million to
$4-million funding identified for this current fiscal year, is it anticipat=
ed
that construction will begin in the current fiscal year with that amount of
funding being dedicated to the project? Hon. Ms. McLean: As I have stated, we have committed to the project in our capi=
tal
plan and we do have a significant allocation for this fiscal year. The plan=
ning
is continuing, and the construction tender date and project completion will=
be
confirmed subject to additional planning. It is too early to give specific
dates at this point. Mr. Kent: So,
we will keep an eye on the Bids and Tenders. If contractors reach out to us
asking about that specific project, we will refer them to the minister̵=
7;s
response here today — or if there is an announcement in the future.=
span> Again,=
in the
budget documents with respect to the Ross River School structural upgrades,
there is $3 million to $4 million this year and then $200,000 to
$500,000 in the three subsequent budget years according to the documents th=
at were
tabled this year and according to briefing documents that were provided by =
the
department. I just=
wanted to
make sure that any plans to replace the Ross River School are now abandoned=
and
that there are just structural upgrades to the school being focused on rath=
er
than a replacement of that school. Hon. Ms. McLean: I will always start by stating that the health and safety of
students across the territory is for sure the top priority for our governme=
nt. The sc=
hool in
Ross River was built on changing permafrost — as much of the community
experiences as well. Changing permafrost has contributed to the need for
structural assessments and repairs over the years, but we continue to ensure
that the school is kept safe by mitigating structural movement through upgr=
ades
like the re-levelling system and by performing repairs to lessen the effect=
s of
the school’s movement. The Ross River School is inspected quarterly b=
y a
multi-disciplinary team that includes an architect, a structural engineer, a
geotechnical engineer, and a surveyor. This is a highly skilled team. The
latest building and condition inspection report received on February 22
confirmed that the school remains safe for occupancy. The next inspection
report is expected to be received in May 2023. The cu=
rrent work
that is happening — a re-levelling system at the school is currently
being worked on that will mitigate the effects of further permafrost
deterioration. We are also building a new modular mechanical room to replace
the existing mechanical plant. The heat emitted from the mechanical plant w=
as
contributing to the deterioration of the permafrost under the school. Work =
on
both of these projects is currently underway. The new modular mechanical ro=
om
was completed during the spring break. The re-levelling system is scheduled=
to
be completed this summer. Upcoming summer projects include lighting upgrade=
s in
the gymnasium and the library. I thin=
k that one
other aspect that I will just make note of today — of course, folks a=
re
aware that over this last year, we have established the First Nation School
Board. The Ross River School is one of those schools that is under the First
Nation School Board, and we will continue working with them as a partner. M=
ind
you, part of our agreement is that the Department of Education and Highways=
and
Public Works continue to maintain and upgrade the school infrastructure whe=
re
the First Nation School Board schools are. We will continue to work with th=
em
as a partner as we move forward. Mr. Kent: I
thank the minister for that. The Member for Pelly-Nisutlin can pass that
response on to the school community in Ross River. I did =
want to
ask about Whistle Bend Elementary School. When we were provided with the
briefing on the supplementary estimates, it was said that there was a defer=
ral
to 2023-24 of $2 million to reflect updated cashflow forecasts and pro=
ject
timing. I am j=
ust
wondering if the minister can let us know what the overall budget changes a=
re
for the Whistle Bend Elementary School, if any, and are there any changes t=
o the
latest opening date? Perhaps I will just get the minister to confirm when t=
he
school will be open for students to attend. Hon. Ms. McLean: I am always happy to stand and speak about this really exciting
project that is happening within Whitehorse and in our growing community of
Whistle Bend. Again, we have not seen any elementary schools built in
Whitehorse in over 20 years. This is an important project and it is well
underway. I know that folks make comments to me quite often about the progr=
ess
on it and the excitement of having their children attend it. The me=
mber
opposite had some questions about the budget. Whistle Bend is a key investm=
ent,
with construction scheduled to be completed during the 2023-24 school year.=
A
$42.8-million design/build contract was awarded to Ket=
za
Construction. The 2023-24 main estimates include $20.3 million for
construction of the school, with a total capital requirement budgeted at $5=
2.8 million. Again,
construction is underway and is expected to be completed in the winter of
2023-24. Mr. Kent: I
appreciate that. This g=
oes back
to the previous Minister of Education. When we were talking — and I
don’t have the exact year — about attendance areas and potential
changes to attendance areas, the minister at that time said that there were=
700
vacancies in elementary schools across the Whitehorse area. So, there were =
700
vacant spots and that was before the announcement was made with respect to =
the
Whistle Bend Elementary School, so I just wanted to check in with the minis=
ter.
She probably won’t have these numbers here today, but if she could ma=
ke a
commitment to get back to us with how many vacancies there now are in
elementary schools in Whitehorse, including the — I think it is 450
— additional students who will be housed at the Whistle Bend Elementa=
ry
School — if I could get that cumulative number of how many vacancies
there are in elementary schools in the Whitehorse area. Hon. Ms. McLean: Definitely an area — there is a lot in the question asked
around school growth, attendance areas, and enrolment in schools. Attend=
ance areas
— I will start there — support the governance and operation of
schools and support the school council election process as well. When a new
school or residential area is approved for construction or expansion —=
; or
a school joins a school board or attendance area — it will be reviewed
and impacted neighbouring schools will be consulted. Attend=
ance areas
— I think I will make note, because I don’t know if I have actu=
ally
had a chance to stand and talk about this. But I think it’s really
important that attendance area changes in 2022 were necessary to establish =
the
attendance area for the new Whistle Bend Elementary School currently under
construction to respond to the creation of the First Nation School Board and
the referendums that were conducted at Takhini Elementary and Grey Mountain
Elementary — alignment gaps in coverage and support and the ongoing
effective use of the schools and student enrolment. This w=
as a
significant change, I think, responding to these different changes in our
governance and authorities around the territory. That was a significant cha=
nge. I will=
just move
a little bit over to enrolment at Yukon schools. All schools in the Yukon in
May 2021 had 5,702 students. In May 2022, we had 5,799 students. In January
2023, we had 5,820 students, so that is a change of 21 additional students =
from
May 2022. You can see that we are certainly growing. The Yukon is growing a=
nd,
of course, we are going to see those impacts in schools. In ter=
ms of community
schools, there were 1,096 students in May 2021, 1,110 in May 2022, and 1,08=
0 in
January 2023. That saw a reduction of about 30 students. In ter=
ms of
Whitehorse schools, we had 4,606 students in May 2021, 4,689 in May 2022, a=
nd
in January 2023, we saw 4,740 students — so, an increase of 51 studen=
ts
in Whitehorse schools. I will=
go into
the elementary aspect and then the First Nation School Board, but there will
definitely be different ways to show these numbers going forward because we=
do
have three authorities now within education, being the First Nation School
Board, the Commission scolaire francophone du Y=
ukon,
and the Department of Education. So, in=
terms of
elementary students, we have: 3,592 students as of May 2021; May 2022, 3,65=
6;
and January 2023, 3,670 — so an increase of 14 students in elementary
schools. I will probably just stop there, but there are specific numbers as
well with the First Nation School Board and, of course, the Francophone Sch=
ool
Board. Mr. Kent: I
appreciate those breakdowns. So, I guess the question that I was asking was
with respect to the number of vacancies in the Whitehorse-area schools. It
stood at 700 when the previous minister and I had a discussion about it, so=
I
was curious where that is. I appreciate the enrolment numbers that the mini=
ster
gave us. I will go back through the transcripts here today just to try to g=
et a
sense of where we might be at as far as vacancies in Whitehorse-area school=
s,
given the number that the previous minister gave us a number of years ago a=
nd
then some of the data that the minister just presented as well as the
additional spaces that will become available when Whistle Bend school comes
online in a couple of years. I did =
want to
ask some questions around planning. Obviously, the government has launched =
the
planning exercise for Whitehorse area schools, whether it is renovations and
upgrades — I understand that meetings are occurring now between the
consultant and various school communities as well as the broader education
communities and stakeholders. I am j=
ust
wondering if there are plans to conduct a similar exercise for schools outs=
ide
of Whitehorse. Hon. Ms. McLean: Thank you for the question. As the member has indicated, we ha=
ve
launched the public consultation and engagement. We have had some discussio=
n in
the House this session around the public engagement that we launched on Mar=
ch
14 to look at the capital planning needs for Whitehorse-based schools. That
work is well underway and the sessions are going well. There is still
opportunity for folks to participate. I will note that we have encouraged f=
olks
who may have children attending schools in Whitehorse — there is cert=
ainly
participation happening with folks who live in rural communities and have
students in the Whitehorse area. So, a lot of work is happening on that fro=
nt. Again,=
our
capital planning is very important. We have made some big strides. I have
already talked today about a major build that we are working on with Burwash
Landing and the Kluane First Nation around the Kêts’ádań Kų=
̀
project, which is a major investment for our government. We will continue to
have conversations with Yukon school communities and the two Yukon school
boards about facility needs as we plan for future school projects.=
p>
The De=
partment
of Education is responsible, under our agreements with both of our school
boards, for the upkeep, maintenance, and care of the facilities. However, I=
think
something that is notable is that now, of the 11 schools that are under the
First Nation School Board, nine of them are under the First Nation School B=
oard
and are rural schools. So, we will continue to work with our partners and e=
ach
of our school communities going forward. Mr. Kent: We
will, I am sure, revisit that process — perhaps as early as this fall=
. I did =
want to
jump over to one other quick question about rural communities. I was lookin=
g at
the Yukon Liberal Party platform for the 2021 election. It said that —
quote: “In four years, we have…”, and then one of the
checkmarks is: “Committed to establishing early kindergarten in all r=
ural
communities by the start of the 2021-22 school year”. Lookin=
g at the
various enrolment reports, it appears that this did not happen, so I am just
giving the minister an opportunity to confirm whether or not they did have
early kindergarten in all rural communities by the start of 2021-22.=
Hon. Ms. McLean: Our
goal is to ensure that rural schools have the resources and training that t=
hey
need to deliver enhanced early kindergarten, which supports a child’s
transition to kindergarten programming through a literacy-rich, play-based
early learning environment. I would really like to also talk about the earl=
y learning
and childcare initiatives, because I think that they are both related here =
and
are certainly working hand in hand as children move into kindergarten and i=
nto
grades 1 to 12. We continue to work with rural school communities, Yukon Fi=
rst
Nations, and the First Nation School Board to enhance early kindergarten
programs in their communities for the 2022-23 school year. All Yu=
kon rural
schools, except for Robert Service School in Dawson, offer optional early
kindergarten programming. Discussions continue with partners in the communi=
ty
of Dawson City on the future of early kindergarten. In respect of the secti=
on
17.7 agreement, the Department of Education is in regular discussions with =
Tr’ondëk Hwëch=
8217;in
in Dawson City regarding early kindergarten. All rural Yukon schools now ha=
ve
full-time optional kindergarten programs. Again, early kindergarten is inte=
nded
to provide students with more time engaging in the kindergarten curriculum =
for
critical skill development, thereby supporting a successful transition into=
school
years. This is a commitment that our government made and is one that I am v=
ery
pleased is now fully implemented. We certainly want to work in the best
possible way with our partners and to ensure that we are not forcing any
implementation of anything on a community but are rather working with them =
to
ensure their success. This i=
s work
that we are very proud of, and it works hand in hand with a number of our
partners — certainly the Child Development Centre and many of our oth=
er
partners in early learning childcare, which we have made historic investmen=
ts
in over the last several years now. We are now leading the country in early
learning and childcare. Early kindergarten in our communities is one of tho=
se
key commitments, and we actually also really see this as a response to the
Auditor General’s report of 2019. We see this as a step in the right
direction. Mr. Kent: Just
while we are on the topic of early learning, I do have some questions for t=
he
minister about the Yukon Child Care Board. This is a board that the minister
appoints. The last time I checked, there were five members, but I understand
that there are seven positions. I am curious why the minister hasn’t
filled the board, or are there plans to fill it in the near future?<=
/p>
Hon. Ms. McLean: The Yukon Child Care Board is certainly an important entity in=
our
early learning childcare programming. We have had the chance to meet with t=
hem
and speak with them about what their priorities are and what areas they felt
were important to bring to my attention. As of today, unless there is somet=
hing
that is late-breaking, I am sure that the positions are all filled.<=
/p>
Mr. Kent: It is
my understanding that there are two vacancies, but we can circle back with =
the
minister on that at another time. So, th=
e government
previously conducted a review of the supported childcare program. Is that
review public? If it is not, is the minister willing to share it with us or
make it public? Hon. Ms. McLean: Yes, the review of the early learning supported childcare prog=
ram
began in September 2022 with a local consultant contracted to undertake the
review. We are actually still waiting to be in receipt of that review and w=
ill
make further determinations upon the receipt of it. Mr. Kent: Once
the minister has a copy, we look forward to her letting us know when that
review will be made public. My fin=
al
question along these lines is with respect to the Child Care Act. I am just curious if the government is currently
conducting a review of the Child Ca=
re Act
and, if so, if the minister can tell us the status of that review.=
p>
Hon. Ms. McLean: We certainly recognize the importance of early learning and
childcare for Yukon families. It has been a major focus and priority for our
government. We know of the need to continue to improve children’s
learning opportunities and outcomes. We have committed to begin the work to
review the Yukon Child Care Act,
which is reflected in my current mandate letter. To beg=
in this
work, we have reviewed all of the feedback from engagements with First Nati=
on governments,
the Yukon Child Care Board, and stakeholders over the past couple of years.=
We
released a report on March 27 that outlines themes that will inform next st=
eps.
We certainly will continue to consult and engage with partners and stakehol=
ders
as the work to review the Yukon Chi=
ld
Care Act advances. We have acted on many of the priorities that we hear=
d in
these engagements already — over the past two years. We have made cha=
nges
to policies and implemented new programs. In addition to affordability for
families, the Child Care Board specifically wanted us to look at quality and
wages for educators. We have followed through by increasing wages for early
learning educators to some of the highest in Canada as well as offering acc=
ess
to funding for comprehensive health care insurance benefit programs. We are
investing in continuing education for educators and increasing our funding =
for
operators to enhance their early learning programs. We def=
initely,
as I have stated today, value our ongoing dialogue with the Yukon Child Care
Board and the importance of input that the members provide in development a=
nd
support of early learning and childcare services in the Yukon. As I m=
entioned
today, I had a chance to meet with the board. I met with them in November 2=
022
to discuss their annual report and the future of early learning and childca=
re
in the Yukon. In the annual report for 2021-22, the board recognized the wo=
rk
that has already begun and noted that they were happy to engage fully in
collaboration. We will continue to work with the Yukon Child Care Board as =
we
advance this work. In ter=
ms of the
report that I released on March 27 in a “what we heard” documen=
t,
the high level of that was based, again, on the engagement feedback. The re=
port
highlights a number of potential Ch=
ild
Care Act amendments that could, if passed, strengthen and legislate the
improvements that are already implemented through the new universal childca=
re
system, including where government funding has reduced rates for families to
below $10 per day on average, increased minimum wage for early learning
educators to the highest in the country, and enhanced program quality. The
report also includes potential amendments that could improve inclusive
supports, simplify subsidy processes for families and operators, modernize =
credentializing and licensing requirements for educat=
ors,
support continued professional development for educators, and update the ro=
le
and powers of the Yukon Child Care Board. So, th=
at was
released in a “what we heard” report, and as I have stated, thi=
s is
an item that is currently in my mandate letter. We do have a process that we
work with — the Cabinet Committee on Legislation — and I will
continue to work within that process to work toward next steps on this act =
review. Mr. Kent: I
wanted to jump back to some questions about capital specifically focused on
schools that have challenges around seismic needs. Last March, I believe it
was, there was a CBC online story that suggested that four Whitehorse schoo=
ls
are rated high for seismic risk. That was according to government documents.
Those four schools were Whitehorse Elementary School, Christ the King
Elementary School, the Wood Street Centre, and Takhini Elementary School. Of
course, the government said that they were safe, and we still have students=
in
those today, obviously. I am j=
ust
curious — we found out after last year’s Spring Sitting that
École Whitehorse Elementary School would be the one that was going t=
o be
replaced, but is there any money in this year’s budget to address som=
e of
the seismic mitigation needs for the existing Whitehorse Elementary School =
and
the other three schools that I mentioned? Hon. Ms. McLean: Safety
at our schools is, as I have said many, many times, a top priority and we w=
ork
to proactively address safety issues wherever and whenever possible. Schools
are regularly inspected to ensure that they are safe. If structural issues =
are
identified, precautionary action is taken and mitigation work is prioritized
based on the risk assessment. Given the evolution of seismic research, the
Government of Yukon conducted studies on all Yukon schools to identify
potential seismic risk and the likelihood of seismic events. The
cross-territory seismic assessments were undertaken some time ago — i=
n 2013
and 2014. The Government of Yukon continues to perform seismic and structur=
al
assessments on schools as required to ensure the safety of staff and studen=
ts. As a r=
esult of
these studies, our government has undertaken several mitigation measures. To
date, we have addressed several structural issues — for example, repa=
irs
on roofs, floors, and walls and many non-structural issues such as ductwork,
furniture upgrades, and shelving. Yukon&=
#8217;s
last major seismic event was in 2017 and the mitigations that we had in pla=
ce
proved effective during that event. The seismic upgrades go beyond the basic
code requirements and are intended to bring the buildings in line with mode=
rn
seismic standards. The Department of Highways and Public Works and the
Department of Education are reviewing all school facilities and planning for
the future of these facilities. Seismic issues are one of the many factors
considered in new school design. I thin=
k there
are a couple of other things that I would add. Yukon schools were built to =
the
building codes in place at the time of construction. Modern building code
requirements contain increasingly stringent structural requirements. We are
working to catch up on the infrastructure needs of our education system. The
type and severity of seismic issues vary from building to building and can =
be
categorized in two areas: structural components, like roofs, walls, and
foundations; and the non-structural components, like suspended ceilings, wa=
ter
piping, ductwork, furniture upgrades, and shelving units. I have already
mentioned some of that, but we have definitely mitigated some of those find=
s in
schools. As I s=
tated
today, we do have a consultation underway around the future of capital needs
for Whitehorse schools. This goes hand in hand with a report that we had
previously, working around the structure of our schools and, as always, tak=
ing
into consideration, first and foremost, the safety of our schools as a top
priority. We work to proactively address the safety issues wherever possibl=
e. Mr. Kent:Q=
95;I did
want to ask some questions about the specific replacement of École
Whitehorse Elementary School. Last year, it was announced that it would be =
the
school that would be the elementary school replacement for Whitehorse. There
was money in the five-year capital plan last year that would have suggested
that construction would start this year; however, looking at the current bu=
dget
documents, it looks like that has been delayed to construction perhaps star=
ting
in 2024‑25. But I =
do want to
draw the minister’s attention to March 29 of this year. There was a
letter written by Sport Yukon and Softball Yukon. It was addressed to the
minister and four of her Cabinet colleagues, including the Premier. It was =
with
respect to Sport Yukon and Softball Yukon’s objection to the consulta=
tion
process surrounding the proposed building of that new elementary school in
Takhini. Of course, there are three high-use softball fields that are curre=
ntly
leased to and maintained by Softball Yukon on that site. I want=
ed to ask
the minister if she was aware of this letter and aware of whether or not a
response to this letter has been sent back to these two organizations yet.<=
/span> Hon. Ms. McLean: We are very excited to be moving forward with a much-needed
replacement of École Whitehorse Elementary School. We are currently =
in
the early planning phase. The exact location of the school on the Takhini
education reserve has not yet been determined. Our next step in the planning
phase is to identify a prime consultant to work on the planning and design =
of
the school. Part of this work will include examining options for the locati=
on
of the future school on the Takhini education reserve. We are
definitely working very closely, of course, and will continue the progress =
on
the project. We will work, as I have said before, with the First Nation Sch=
ool
Board and the project advisory committee to address any potential impacts on
the Takhini Elementary School and the neighbourhood. Certainly, I am aware =
of
the letter that has been discussed here today from Softball Yukon. A formal
response is forthcoming. However, our Deputy Minister of Education reached =
out
to Softball Yukon on April 5 — advising around the information on the
Whitehorse capital planning public engagement — and has encouraged So=
ftball
Yukon to engage in this process now, but a more formal response certainly is
forthcoming. As we =
move into
this stage and when we do have a prime consultant in place, this individual
will be working closely with the project advisory committee. That, again, is
made up of Whitehorse Elementary School Council members, the Whitehorse
Elementary School administration, the City of Whitehorse, the Government of
Yukon, the Ta’an Kw&=
auml;ch’än’
Council, and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.=
The
project committee will provide the department with input on aspects of the
school’s planning and design, including ways the school can help to m=
eet
community needs in terms of functionality, cultural components, and communi=
ty
space. Again,=
as the
assessment of the Takhini education land reserve continues, they will look =
at
conditions that are necessary before — and they will look at all of t=
hese
aspects before finalizing the location of the new school. The consultant te=
am
will complete an assessment of the land, test different areas within the
reserve for potential locations for the school, summarize the findings, and
provide a recommendation on the optimal and most feasible location or
locations. The Go=
vernment
of Yukon is keeping all options open until we have further information to g=
uide
planning decisions. We have certainly, as I have stated, reached out to
Softball Yukon, and a more formal response will be sent by me to Softball Y=
ukon
to address the concerns that they have raised in their letter. Mr. Kent: I
appreciate that from the minister. We will look forward to hearing about the
response to the letter written by Sport Yukon and Softball Yukon that the
minister has promised. At the=
briefing
with officials back in March, there were three different policies that I had
requested copies of. I am just looking for a status update from the ministe=
r.
The first was with respect to whether or not there is a policy or guidelines
for social media activity for staff in the Department of Education. The sec=
ond
one is with respect to communication protocols for school communities ̵=
2;
so, including staff, school council, and the broader school community ̵=
2;
around human resource issues if an individual in the school community is
dismissed for one reason or another. The final one is with respect to ̵=
2;
and this is for elementary school students — any notification around
sexual education or sexual activities within the school. Is there any policy
around whether or not notification is given to parents prior to the activit=
y or
the education taking place? This is a concern that I have heard from a numb=
er
of individuals. I gues=
s I am
just looking for a status update on when I can expect to see those, if they
exist. I just want to forward those to the parents who have raised concerns
with me. Hon. Ms. McLean: I will start with the question around a social media policy for
staff. The Yukon government’s conflict-of-interest policy applies to =
all
staff hired under the Public Servic=
e Act
and the Education Act. The purp=
ose of
the policy is to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public serva=
nts
by establishing clear parameters to minimize the possibility of conflict
arising between public servants’ official duties and responsibilities=
and
their personal and private interests. The policy includes a section on publ=
ic
statements. There =
is another
action item within the safer schools action plan that moves into another ar=
ea
of this. It is one of the 23 actions within the safer schools action plan
around ethics and values. Folks will be hearing more about the progress of =
that
action plan and its implementation soon. In ter=
ms of the
second question — and I hope I have this right in terms of what the
question is. I thin=
k I will
go back for a second on the other question. We do have three school authori=
ties
within Yukon — the First Nation School Board, the Yukon Francophone
School Board, and the Department of Education. So, we work closely around o=
ur
communication with those authorities as well in terms of the application and
expectation around these matters. In ter=
ms of the next
question — the post-incident communication guidance — we have
developed communication guidance to support school administrators in provid=
ing
clear and consistent communication to families. Aspect=
s of this
are certainly being implemented. The Yukon post-incident communication guid=
ance
outlines that, for major incidents, the superintendent or executive director
will notify school council members or school board trustees. Examples of ma=
jor
incidents may include police or fire department attendance at schools and
lockdowns or hold and secure. Where there are incidents of allegations of a=
buse
or harm to a student, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Schools and Student
Services will coordinate with the RCMP, Family and Children Services, the
Public Service Commission, Justice, and the Executive Council Office to
consider the approach for communicating with students, families, school boa=
rds
and councils, and school staff based on any ongoing investigation and
assessment of the rights, privacy and legislation, and dignity of staff and
students. In ter=
ms of the
third area that has been brought forward in the question around gender iden=
tity
and health curriculum, we want all students, staff, and school community
members to feel safe and welcome in Yukon schools. The Yukon’s curric=
ulum
includes age-appropriate learning standards on health, sexual orientation, =
and
gender identities. We work with educators, health experts, and community
members to ensure that we are using the most up-to-date practices to create=
an
inclusive school environment for all students. We are making every effort to
ensure that lessons and teaching practices promote inclusion. We continue to
review and update these on an ongoing basis. We cer=
tainly
appreciate the need for families to be aware of curriculum topics. We invite
parents to discuss curriculum topics with their child’s teacher and/or
school principal. If anyone has feedback or concerns about a lesson being
taught at their school, we encourage them to bring it to the attention of t=
he
teacher and school principal for discussion. Also, I think the next level to
that is the superintendent and the ADM of schools and on and on up. Our des=
ire
is to have those concerns addressed at the school level and to have as much
dialogue as we can there. Teache=
rs are
provided with resources and professional learning about appropriate language
and best practice to teach these learning standards inclusively. The Yukon
curriculum, resources, and professional learning for teachers follow the
department’s sexual orientation and gender identity policy, which
promotes appropriate, respectful behaviour for all students, including
2SLGBTQIA+ students. A review of the SHARE program, which is for grades 4 t=
o 7
resources, now called “Better to Know”, has been completed. The
revised resources are available to teachers. We have implemented new traini=
ng
development through work on the safer schools action plan in all schools to
enhance student safety and raise awareness about appropriate adult behaviou=
r as
well. Mr. Kent: I
will send the minister’s responses to the families and school communi=
ties
that have reached out. If there is any follow-up necessary, I will follow up
with the minister on that either before the end of this Sitting or through =
the
summer via letter. I have=
time for
one more question. I did want to ask about the confidence and supply agreem=
ent
between the Yukon Liberal caucus and the Yukon NDP caucus. There are a numb=
er
of education-specific commitments in here, and I wanted to ask about what i=
s on
page 3 of the document, 2(f), which is to: “create dedicated
wellness counsellors or similar positions in all schools specifically dedic=
ated
to addressing the need for comprehensive mental health and wellness.”=
I
am wondering if the minister can give us an update on where we are at with =
that
work. Have the job descriptions been completed for these positions? Will we=
see
these counsellors or similar positions in all schools in the 2023-24 school
year? How many positions will that be, and what is the expected budget for =
this
joint commitment between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party? I will
thank the officials for coming as well, because that is my last question be=
fore
I turn it over to my colleague from Takhini-Kopper King. Hon. Ms. McLean: The 2023 confidence and supply agreement sets out a new relati=
onship
between the Yukon Liberal caucus and the Yukon NDP caucus, and much work has
been done to date to realize this agreement. The NDP shares the Yukon
government’s desire to improve the Yukon education system. To this en=
d,
the new confidence and supply agreement contains several specific actions f=
or
the Department of Education and identifies funding commitments over the next
three budgets specifically creating dedicated wellness counsellors or simil=
ar
positions. Some of the work is already underway under the reimagining inclu=
sive
and special education initiative and was already something that we were
contemplating and working on, so it feels very aligned in terms of our work
there. We did=
not
actually have a specific timeline around this. This is an agreement that sp=
ans
over the next three budgets. However, it is a high priority for our governm=
ent
and I want to say that it aligns very closely with the comprehensive mental
health approach and much work has been done on this. We work, of course, wi=
thin
our systems and we will have to work closely with Management Board and Cabi=
net
around the implementation of this key commitment that we have made. I have =
said
this already during budget debate: My hope is to have this work that we are
working on now implemented into the fall school year. Chair: Do me=
mbers
wish to take a brief recess? All Hon. Members: Agreed. Chair: Commi=
ttee of
the Whole will recess for 15 minutes. Recess Chair: Commi=
ttee of
the Whole will now come to order. The ma=
tter
before the Committee is continuing general debate on Vote 3, Department of
Education, in Bill No. 208, entitled First
Appropriation Act 2023-24. Is the=
re any
further general debate? Ms. White: Like
I said before, I welcome back the minister and her officials and I thank my
colleague for his questions. Just t=
o build a
bit on the last comment that the minister made with regard to the confidence
and supply agreement that was signed in January of this year, specifically =
in
reference to the creation of dedicated wellness counsellors or similar
positions in all schools, I am hoping, because the minister started the
conversation with my colleague, that she can expand on it, if she can walk =
me
through more of what the department is looking at or what they are consider=
ing.
I do agree and I would like to think that all members in the Assembly agree
that mental health and wellness is important, especially for students. So, =
I am
just looking for more information. Hon. Ms. McLean: Thanks for the question. I think that this is a huge area of
priority. We have spent a lot of attention on mental health. We take the me=
ntal
health and wellness of students very seriously, particularly as we are movi=
ng
forward from the pandemic. We are continually assessing the needs of studen=
ts.
The Department of Education is developing a comprehensive mental health and
wellness approach. This is an important part of the overall work we are doi=
ng
to reimagine inclusive and special education. Our mental health and wellness
approach will include prevention and promotion of positive mental health, as
well as intervention supports and responses in and out of school. The appro=
ach
will be developmentally and culturally responsive. We wil=
l align
with the Yukon’s mental health strategy and be guided by the
recommendations from the Yukon Youth Calls to Action from 2022 from the You=
th
Summit, which brings forward important perspectives from youth on supports =
that
work for them. I was at the opening and inaugural awards last night at the
Youth Summit. It was so inspiring to have the youth and elders recognized
throughout the Yukon for their contributions. I am really looking forward to
the outcome of the Youth Summit. I am sure that the member is familiar with=
the
work that is being done this week on finalizing the Yukon youth strategy th=
at
is being worked on as a collective with youth throughout the Yukon and all =
of
the youth organizations. There =
were many
chiefs there last night and a lot of commitment — previous commitment=
and
commitment going forward — to that important forum. We are striving to
create stronger connections to mental health and wellness supports and
resources provided in communities by partners and stakeholders, as well as
those offered within the school setting. In ter=
ms of the
positions, the department is looking at the school counsellor program to en=
sure
it meets the current needs of students. Based on what we hear, we will look=
and
work toward creating wellness coordinator positions or something similar in
every school, which is, again, a key commitment as our part of CASA. Meetin=
g the
mental health needs of students requires flexibility and diversity in the
approach, including raising awareness of how to support mental well-being f=
or
all students. We are looking at approaches from inclusive,
culturally-appropriate programs to target services for acute mental health
challenges, including clinical counsellors. It is =
also
important that we take the time now to do the foundational work of engaging
with our partners to inform a program that will meet the diverse needs of
students. In terms of clinical counselling support, it is very important, as
well; however, it is one aspect of the comprehensive mental health approach
that we take in the Yukon. There =
is a lot
more to come on this. I hope that we get some chance to talk about some of =
the
really exciting projects that are happening in the Yukon. Last week, on
Thursday evening, we had an opportunity to go to an education celebration w=
here
we had a number of schools come together from across the territory to prese=
nt
their learning network outcomes that they have been using in the schools. We
have all of the spirals of inquiry working on some of the bigger issues in =
the
Yukon. We have broken it down, as well, at the school level. Schools are now
testing different models and using the spiral of inquiry to test it and bri=
ng
it into action right away. I thin=
k we had
nine examples presented to us around real work that is happening in our
schools. I know that every single person in the room was very inspired by w=
hat
we witnessed. There was so much passion and commitment from our educators. =
I am
truly excited by the work that is happening because we have just opened that
gate and are really supporting the creativity. I think that the learning to
lead program is certainly one of the key initiatives that we are supporting
right now in RISE, but there is a lot more to come. As we talked about in o=
ur
last debate, and within all of those communities of inquiry, this year is g=
oing
to be a significant year in transformation and implementation of some reall=
y,
really great ideas that are really organically growing in our schools. Ms. White:=
195;I
thank the minister for that and I am hopeful that more information can be
shared — kind of broader than just with the minister — as far as
what is going on. The mi=
nister
just mentioned a comprehensive mental health and wellness approach that she
said will align with the mental health strategy. When we can we expect to s=
ee
either a map for what that approach looks like or the intended outcome or
goals? If we are talking about the Department of Education, when can we exp=
ect
to understand more of what their direction will be as far as what she said =
will
be the comprehensive mental health and wellness approach? Hon. Ms. McLean: I am happy to continue to look at this area. I think it’=
s very
important and one of our key focus areas within the Department of Education.
It’s very much a key part of our work that we are doing on COVID
recovery, so I can speak a little bit more to that. I̵=
7;ll go
through a few things that we have delivered and where we are at and where we
are going. We delivered a presentation to an administrators meeting on Dece=
mber
1 and 2, 2022. We developed 10 questions to help guide the discussion with
internal and external partners. We met with Autism Yukon, LDAY
Centre for Learning, the Advisory Committee for Yukon Education, the Youth
Achievement Centre, and Aurora Virtual School in January 2023. We reached o=
ut
also to Yukon First Nation education and government contacts in December 20=
22,
and additionally, we followed up in January 2023 to engage and ask question=
s. We met=
with the
Boys and Girls Club, Yukon’s mental health action team, and the Yukon
government’s Sport and Recreation branch in December. We are reviewing
and evaluating the school counsellor position, as I have stated, and its
broader role within the school community. We met with other agencies in Jan=
uary
and February in the health promotion unit, Yukon health and safety board,
Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre
— the list goes on and on — YFNED, =
Child
Development Centre, Inclusion Yukon, the outreach van, Queer Yukon, and, of
course, the Women and Gender Equity Directorate. We are
developing, as I have said, the comprehensive mental health approach docume=
nt
based on the feedback and data we have collected. This is very tied to the
outcome strategy, as well — the one that Tosh Southwick is working on=
. I
can talk more about that, because that is a really key initiative that is g=
oing
to be definitely a deeper dive. Tosh has done some really excellent work in=
working
with our communities and with all of our partners around an outcome strategy
that will tie into all of these initiatives. I am certainly looking forward=
to
when all of the work that is underway comes together and helping Yukoners s=
ee a
vision forward, one that I am definitely hearing about and seeing in action=
now
with our schools. Where =
we are at:
We continue to reach out to our partners and stakeholders. We have complied=
a
draft document of what we have heard to date. This information will inform =
our
work to develop themes and recommendations about immediate steps we can tak=
e.
We will continue to engage with First Nation governments and gather ongoing
feedback. It is certainly a priority area that we are going to see come out=
of
the joint education action plan, as well, with Yukon First Nations.
That’s coming to the end — the joint education action plan goes
until 2024 — so we are starting the negotiation of a new one that will
include all Yukon First Nations in Canada. Where =
we are
going: We will provide a multiple approach to student and teacher mental
well-being. We continue to educate about mental wellness focuses on both
prevention and intervention. Again, as per the confidence and supply agreem=
ent,
we will create dedicated wellness counselors or similar positions in all
schools dedicated specifically to addressing the need for comprehensive men=
tal
health and wellness approaches. The Yu=
kon
government has committed an annual investment of $1 million to improve
mental health outcomes for youth. These funds will support initiatives with=
in
the departments of Education and Health and Social Services and our other
partners. Ms. White: I
thank the minister for that. It is really helpful when we talk about specif=
ic
documents or plans — it’s much easier to have these conversatio=
ns
once other people have the ability to look at them. Right now, I hear the i=
deas
and I hear the words, but I can’t follow up and I can’t read it=
or
ask specific questions about it. So, I do look forward to that. One of=
the
things the minister said in this conversation that we’ve been having
about wellness counsellors — she used the term “wellness
coordinator positions”. I am curious as to what that means. It’=
s a
term that she has used in the media before, and I just want to know what th=
at means. Hon. Ms. McLean: Thanks for the question; it is definitely a good one. As I have
stated, the department is looking at the school counsellor program. As I ju=
st
talked about, based on what we hear, we will be looking at creating wellness
positions in schools. I know that I’ve interchanged that a couple of
times around “coordinator” because I think that there needs to =
be
flexibility around each school community about what that looks like.
We’re already starting to hear that. We want to make sure that weR=
17;re
looking at approaches that are inclusive, flexible, diverse, and culturally
appropriate to target the right services for the types of mental health
initiatives and challenges that we are seeing not only in our communities
— our schools are a reflection of our communities, so we definitely n=
eed
to be working in a flexible way. That w=
ork, as I
have stated, is underway. The idea is to, in my view, be flexible and be ab=
le
to work with each school community and with our authorities that we have in
place as well, because we do have two other school education authorities th=
at
we are now working with. This is a big change for the Government of Yukon a=
nd
our territory as a whole. Ms. White: I
thank the minister for that. I guess that is just something that people like
myself will have to pay attention to, to see what it means. Yes, it is one =
of
those challenges. We can include things in an agreement, but I have no abil=
ity
to have them implemented, necessarily, in the way that I have been shown th=
at
it could be the most beneficial. I put it down there and, like everyone els=
e,
have to wait to see how it rolls out. So, at times, I have to say — I
would be exaggerating if I said “at all times” — that it =
is
hard not to be in control of how those things work. So, I am curious about =
the
process and how it all rolls out. In Oct=
ober of
last year, there was a press release about the safer schools action plan in=
the
fall update. I am quoting from the news release. It just says: “All 23
commitments in the plan are on track to be completed by spring 2023.”=
It
talks about the milestones since the last update in July. I just=
want to
move into — so, this press release from October of last year says tha=
t 13
of the 23 commitments in the safer schools action plan have been completed.=
So,
I am going to move over now to the actual document — the 23 safer sch=
ools
actions. Number 4 is within the departments of Justice and Education. It sa=
ys:
“Develop victim support plan and identify materials”. It says
“March 2023”, and I just want to know if that has been complete=
d. Hon. Ms. McLean: This work that we have undertaken has been intense and it has =
taken
a lot of work, not only from officials throughout government — because
this is a whole government, and many departments have been involved in the =
work
that we are talking about on the safer schools action plan. It arose out of=
our
review from incidents from an elementary school in Whitehorse. It came out =
of
the report that was compiled and done by Amanda Rogers. She had seven
recommendations. We quickly responded with an action plan of 23 actions that
addressed those seven recommendations. Since =
the safer
schools action plan release, we=
have
really dug in and done the work. We are delivering to support students,
teachers, and families. We are on track to complete all 23 of our commitmen=
ts
in that plan this spring. We have been working and will continue to work wi=
th
our school community. We still have a bit of work to do with the school
community before we can publicly release our report on the completion of th=
is.
We took meaningful steps to improve government-wide coordination in respons=
e to
critical incidents so that we ensure timely and appropriate supports for
children, their families, and the school community. We also worked hard to
address the policy gaps and enhance safety and oversight mechanisms across =
all
departments and with the RCMP. Other =
key
advancements since the release of the action plan include training for
school-based staff, establishing a Hidden Valley parent advisory committee,=
and
developing policies to improve internal coordination and coordination as we=
ll
as prevention and responding to incidents in schools. We wil=
l continue
to look forward to providing a full update on the work that has happened to
date. As the member and I have had discussions in the House around some of =
the
next steps that may come out of this, the outcomes of this work are extreme=
ly
important. We are taking action to build back trust and to repair and resto=
re
confidence in our ability to respond to critical incidents and support scho=
ol
communities. Folks can see a full listing of all the actions and their prog=
ress
status can be found on yukon.ca, but we certainly will be coming forward very =
soon
with a full and comprehensive report on our progress here. Ms. White: I
thank the minister for that. I am asking specifically about those 23 actions
that the minister has just talked about, based on their commitment. I just
asked specifically about point 4, which says that it is on track to be
completed in March 2023. Of course, I am standing here in the middle of Apr=
il,
so I just wanted to know if that was complete. I appreciate that the report=
is
coming out, but we don’t have it yet and we are in the budget debate.=
I
still have further questions. I beli=
eve the
minister did just allude to point 7, which is being led by Education and He=
alth
and Social Services. It talks about creating a new inter-agency agreement f=
or
the investigation of child abuse and providing training on roles and
responsibilities under the agreement to those who are responsible within ea=
ch
department. The deadline at that point was originally August 2022 and then =
the
new target was December 2022. Maybe she can confirm if that has been comple=
ted. Anothe=
r one,
point 8, was the Department of Justice, the Public Service Commission, and
Education to develop corporate policies and procedures for information-shar=
ing
— I think she alluded to that, so if can she confirm if point 8 has b=
een
completed. Point =
9.2, under
the Department of Education, is: “Update policies internal to the
Department of Education to ensure they are aligned with corporate policies =
and
processes”. The new deadline there was December 2022. Point =
15 is
solely the responsibility of the Department of Education: “Explore wa=
ys
to make best use of school, student and human resource databases to collect,
archive and maintain up-to-date information”. That new deadline was
December 2022 — so if she could just let us know. Point =
16,
Department of Education, is: “Review existing incident reporting and
tracking systems across the Yukon government and determine if one common sy=
stem
or similar systems could be implemented for all departments, beginning with
Education”. It says that it was on track to be completed by January 2=
023.
Point =
17,
Department of Education, says: “Develop a process for ongoing review =
and
monitoring of policies and procedures and best practices for higher risk
educational settings”. It says that it is underway to be completed in
December 2022. Point =
19 is not
the minister’s, so we will skip that one. So, th=
ere are a
couple there that are very much within the purview of the Department of
Education. So, if the minister could just touch on those numbers where the =
Department
of Education is either the lead or one of the leads — in a lot of tho=
se
examples, it was just solely the responsibility of the Department of Educat=
ion.
Hon. Ms. McLean: This
was really important work and work that — as we do all of our work
— we take very, very seriously. There was a lot of commitment across
government from Education to Executive Council Office, Justice, Health and
Social Services, Public Service Commission — a tremendous amount of w=
ork
has gone in. I can say that, out of all of the items that the member just
named, all of them but one need a little bit of work and it requires a visit
back to the school community. They are all complete, so I’m very prou=
d of
the work that has gone in. Everyone has worked so hard to make sure that th=
is
action plan was completed in a timely manner and in a very good way, and so=
I
just have one item to check back with the school community on and work on w=
ith
the parent advisory committee. Ms. White: Thanks
to the minister. That is great news. I am u=
nsure as
to whether or not she is able to share what that one point is that still ha=
s to
be worked on, and if she is able, she can say yes; if not, then I can wait,=
but
maybe she can let us know when the hopeful deadline is to submit that. I
don’t need a concrete one. I won’t come back in the fall and say
that she missed it — but if she can give me an idea of when we might =
see
the full report. Hon. Ms. McLean: In terms of a timeline, we are certainly not talking months; w=
e are
talking weeks in terms of — if that — finalizing. I would prefe=
r to
work with the school community on the one matter that is still outstanding.=
We
actually have a meeting scheduled with them later this week, so I am very
optimistic about being prepared very shortly to talk to Yukoners about the
progress on this action plan. Ms. White: I
thank the minister for that. I do look forward to reading it. Last f=
all, this
House unanimously passed Bill No. 304, which was making sure that there
are safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ2S+ students. I wanted to follow up =
on
that. I know already because my colleague the Member for Whitehorse Centre =
has
been invited to schools — it is pretty fantastic to go to a rainbow r=
oom
in an elementary school and talk with young kids who talk about feeling see=
n.
Of course, we all know the good work being done at Porter Creek Secondary
School. I just=
wanted to
know if the government is tracking what schools are doing activities. Last
year, as well, it was super clear — my colleague was clear — in=
all
of the discussions that we had that it didn’t need to be prescriptive
— so whether it was a picnic or poster-making or different things. =
span> I just=
wanted to
know if the Department of Education has been following up with schools to f=
ind
out if they are making sure that there is that safe and inclusive space =
212;
and activities — and what supports are being offered to schools to
accomplish different goals. Hon. Ms. McLean: This has been important work that we have worked to now implem=
ent
into our schools. All students and staff in Yukon schools have the right to
feel safe and included. They also have the right to be treated with respect=
and
dignity regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, place =
of
origin, ethnicity, citizenship, religion, age, or ability. In the=
spring of
2022, the Government of Yukon was pleased to support the amendments to the =
Education Act to promote equity and
non-discrimination and to ensure that all schools have safe spaces for
2SLGBTQIA+ students in the form of activities or organizations. At the
beginning of the current school year, all school counsellors were provided =
with
information on the Education Act
amendments as well as copies of the sexual orientation and gender identity =
and
the safe and caring schools policy. School administrators were provided with
information about their responsibilities, as well as reference material, and
provided with resources. Counse=
llors and
administrators are also provided with local and national SOGI and gender and sexuality allian=
ce
information. Several Yukon schools have gender and sexuality alliances and
other 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives. We continue to encourage and support schools =
and
to, of course, help support them with resources that they may need. Educati=
on
has not normally kept track of school-based strategies that support such
initiatives. An assessment is underway. We will certainly bring more
information back to the House around that. Ms. White: I do
thank the minister for that. If the information isn’t brought back to=
the
House — if it could just be sent to opposition members. I know that t=
he
last time we were up in debate, there were some commitments about getting
information back and we haven’t gotten that yet — so if we could
just make sure that we do have access. The minister mentioned the SOGI poli=
cy,
the
Hon. Ms. McLean: Yes, that is the policy that I am referring to at this time.
Ms. White: I thank the minister for that clarification. Just knowing that the policy was first brought forward in 2012 — I mean, even going through the defini= tion in there, I would hazard a guess that some of those things may need to be updated. Some of the concerns that I have heard highlighted from schools is that schools themselves were supposed to develop their own SOGI policies for their school communities. Can the minister confirm if that is the case?
I will start there. Can the minister confirm if schools have been asked to develop their own SOGI policies?
Hon. Ms. McLean: This is work that I also lead from the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, so I’m very familiar with the work that is underway to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students. The Department of Education will review and update the sexual orientation and gender identity policy as outlined in the LGBTQ2S+ action p= lan that was released in July 2021. The review and implementation of the policy= is the responsibility of the Department of Education and is an expectation.
Ms. White: I mean, in just a really basic Google search, the term “transsexualR= 21; is largely outdated according to Google. I would suggest that there are oth= er terms in the SOGI policy that in 2012 may have been accepted, but I would suggest that they are largely outdated.
Can th= e minister help me understand why I have had conversations with schools that are under= the impression that they themselves need to create their own SOGI policies for their own schools even though the minister has said that it’s the responsibility of the Department of Education?
Hon. Ms. McLean: As I started out with, we take the safety and well-being of st= udents very seriously and are truly working toward upholding the respect and digni= ty of all students and staff in our schools. They must feel and do have the ri= ght to feel safe and included. We have been clear about our intentions with sch= ools that — at the beginning, again, of the current school year, especially with the changes to the act, all school counsellors were provided with information on the Education Act = i>amendments as well as copies of the sexual orientation and gender identity policy and = the safe and caring schools policy. School administrators were provided with in= formation about their legislative responsibilities, as well as reference material, resources — — and really working to support our school communit= ies that may not feel comfortable around this work.
In ter= ms of the review, in the LGBTQ2S+ action plan released in July 2021, the Department of Education made a number of commitments, including the update of the sexual orientation and gender identity policy. The updates are intended to address policy issues such as: the use of the student’s correct gender and pr= onouns; updated terminology to be trans-inclusive; address gender identity and inclusion in sports; and clarify points of contact and responsibility at the department and school levels. Certainly, this is work that we are undertaki= ng. I do see this as definitely a part of RISE — reimagining inclusive and special education — work that is underway.
I take= note that if there are schools that are confused about this, we have been very clear about our intention and we will follow up again following this Committee of= the Whole debate with schools to not only reinforce it but also to ask if there= are more supports needed at the school level to ensure success. We want to supp= ort our educators to be inclusive. If there are any struggles out there, we certainly have been clear about our instruction around this. We are wanting= , of course, always to work with all of our authorities that work with us — the Francophone School Board, the First Nation School Board, and all the schools that are under the Department of Education.
Ms. White: The member has referenced now twice an updated SOGI policy, but if I go through Yukon Education policies, it brings me to a webpage where it starts with “Administration of Medication to Students Policy”, and it goes = all the way down to “Yukon Education Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol”. The sexual orientation and gender identity policy that com= es up has a date of —
This i= s when my French immersion education makes it confusing as to whether it is telling me it’s May 9 or September 5. The point is — I know for sure = that it was 2012. The policy that I can find online says 2012 and I can’t = find an updated policy.
Can th= e minister just clarify where I would find an updated sexual orientation and gender identity policy for the Department of Education?
Hon. Ms. McLean: The current policy is the policy that is found online. We are working to review that policy and working with our partners around this. I = had identified a number of areas where the updated policy would address such it= ems — but it’s not an exhaustive list for sure — as correct gender pronouns, updated terminology, to be trans-inclusive, address gender identity and inclusion in sports, and clarify points of contact and responsibilities at the department and the school levels.
Just t= o be clear, we have not updated that policy yet, but it is work underway.=
I defi= nitely see it as a response to the Auditor General’s report of 2019 where we are looking at ensuring the best outcomes for Yukon students. This is all in li= ne with that and is certainly an area under the outcomes strategy that I had mentioned a few times. I would be happy to talk a little bit more about tha= t. Again, these are all around student safety and well-being in schools and something that we are looking to address in multiple ways, and this was one= of them.
Ms. White: I appreciate the words coming from the minister, but knowing that this first = came out — and it is interesting, because it even says — I can paste= it from a couple different ways and sometimes it says “draft” and sometimes it doesn’t say “draft”. But it is from 2012. We understand that things have changed, but there are even things within this — and I think that this is important when we talk about other policies and the minister, and I have talked at length about policies, and I am not going to go that direction right now, but I am going to talk about this pol= icy. It says “Standards and Procedures”. Under “Standards and Procedures”, in point 3, it says: “School based policies intend= ed to prohibit sexual discrimination must state consequences of discrimination= and harassment and Administrators must take action to address such behaviors and document all actions following an incident of homophobic behavior.”= span>
If I l= ook at that — and then, for example, the minister talked about how it was crossed with the safe and caring schools policy — and then I go to the safe and caring schools policy; it talks about the safe and caring school environment; it talks about the purpose of the policy, the principles, stan= dards of behaviour, safety, roles and responsibilities — it lists those thi= ngs, but it doesn’t ever talk as clearly as what it says here, which is to state the consequences of discrimination.
Is it = the Department of Education that decides what the consequences are for actions?= Is it universal across all schools? Is it on a school-by-school basis? Does the administration decide what the consequence of an action is? Who decides if,= for example, in this very specific case, it is a homophobic action? What are the consequences?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Thank you for the question. Again, this is a policy that is outdated. We recognize that — that it goes back to 2012. We have made= the commitment in the LGBTQ2S+ action plan that was released in July 2021. One = of the key areas that the Department of Education made a commitment to is to review and update this policy. We are working toward that.
In ter= ms of the actual on-the-ground procedures, I will make a commitment to bring back some information to the member around that part of it.
Ms. White: I do thank the minister for that. I am just trying to navigate my way through ho= w to figure out whether schools have the support they need. Are they on the path that we may think they are on — that the minister or the department m= ay think they are on? But the very fact is that I have had conversations with = two schools in trying to develop a SOGI policy, so I can clearly say right now = that there are at least two schools that are under the impression that they need= to write their own sexual orientation and gender identity policy, which is rea= lly overwhelming for folks within that school community because they understand= the risk.
One of= the conversations that was happening last year in the Assembly was about concer= ns that had been brought forward by dress codes and such. One thing that I had mentioned last year — and I am just trying to open it right now ̵= 2; is the importance of making sure that we are not actually policing people’s bodies when we talk about dress codes. I would be mortified = if, in our effort to talk about dress codes, we were policing people’s bodies. We can’t change biological development; we can’t change those different things. What we can change is how we react, especially as adults in the room.
One th=
ing I just
wanted to highlight for the minister right now was the dress code at École Whitehorse Elementary School. The reason why I want to
bring this one forward is that last year when we were talking about dress
codes, I spent a fair amount of time online going through the different sch=
ools
and trying to figure out what their policies and things were. What I found =
out
is that dress codes were wildly different between schools. Sometimes, I hav=
e to
say, that I looked at it and was like, “Oh, this isn’t about dr=
ess;
this is about bodies, and we shouldn’t be policing bodies.”
So, th=
e École Whitehorse Elementary School dress code says:
“Whitehorse Elementary does not have a detailed dress code. We expect
that students will dress in a way that is appropriate for a school setting =
and
that their choices respect our goal to foster a community that is inclusive=
of
a diverse range of identities. I can wear clothes of my choice. I am
responsible when I wear clothing [that] does not restrict my participation =
in
school activities. I am respectful when I wear clothing without pictures or
words that are violent, hateful, sexist or racist. I am responsible when I =
wear
clothing that does not [advertise] or [display] alcohol, drugs or other ill=
egal
substances or activities. I am safe when I wear indoor and remove my outdoor
footwear upon entering the building.” I think that last line is proba=
bly
my favourite, because it’s an elementary school and I like that they =
take
off their outdoor shoes to put on their safe indoor shoes, because I think
that’s pretty cute.
The re= ason why I wanted to highlight that is because we’re not talking about bodies; we’re talking about clothing. One of the challenges that we found last year when we were talking about dress codes in schools is that they weren’t consistent. They weren’t even consistent across high schools; they weren’t consistent across elementary schools.
Does t= he Department of Education play a role in looking at things like individual sc= hool dress codes?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Thank you for the question. I am certainly in agreement with t= he member that this should be focused on clothes. Dress codes are considered school rules that are developed and approved by school councils and are oft= en shared online or in a school handbook.
In ter= ms of there being any concerns — if any student, staff, or school community members have any concerns about an existing dress code, we definitely encou= rage them to bring them forward to their school administration and school counci= ls. This is certainly an area that we would be seeking to look at when we look = at the SOGI policy as well as next steps in the safer schools action plan and = next steps for us as a government as we wrap up the first version of the safer school action plan.
Ms. White:= 195;I do thank the minister for that. I hope that there is a conversation with the f= ull school community as to whether or not it happens at PD days with educators = or whether it is with administration. I think that it is worthy of conversatio= ns.
In Nov= ember 2022, I was asking specifically around youth-work-in-trades types of progra= ms in Yukon, because we have seen really interesting success in British Columb= ia. I highlight that this week, on April 20, it is the Territorial Skills Competition, I believe, at the university. I have told them that it is real= ly hard when they put it on a day where I have other things or other places I = need to be. I did attend the baking competition on Saturday as a judge, which was very fun.
We dis= cussed last year — and the minister said that she was completely committed to working with all partners around enhancing Yukon trades. She did say — and I am quoting from last November 2022: “I do think that there certainly are ways that we can enhance and encourage young Yukoners to be m= ore interested in the trades … I am certainly willing to have more conversations, as well, with the Leader of the Third Party around some of h= er ideas. I would like to do that…” It turns out that I have just reminded myself that we had this conversation about having more conversatio= ns, but I would like to have more conversations. Has there been progress made on youth obtaining high school credits toward work in the trades? As an exampl= e, I can say that I have a young friend who started working in a hair salon in h= igh school, and by the time she had graduated from high school, she had done en= ough hours to be able to qualify for her hair stylist exam but then went to scho= ol and completed it. So, has progress been made on youth obtaining high school credits through work in the trades?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, it is an important part of training and adult education= . Of course, the training programs unit works with apprentices to provide flexib= le support for their success. The training programs unit provides monitoring a= nd coordination of an individual’s apprenticeship and school technical training.
In 202= 2, there were: 456 apprentices registered, including 117 who identified as First Nat= ion; 232 apprentice-level exams happened; and 66 interprovincial and liquid prop= ane gas exams were written. There were 50 journeyperson certificates issued. In= the mains for 2023, you will see $2.5 million allocated to support apprenticeship programming. The Working UP program provides broad funding supports to individuals to advance their career goals, and 209 individuals = were supported through this program between April 1, 2022 to February 17, 2023. = In 2023-24, a total of $350,000 is allocated to this program.
The un= it is also advancing the virtual learning strategy, or VLS, program to provide apprentices with the support and guidance needed for different types of learning styles and needs. As of 2022, there were 24 apprentices engaged in the VLS program. Through= the VLS, apprentices have the opportunity to engage with learning strategists and have access to additional supports such as trade-specific tutoring and learning assessments.
In add= ition to working with apprentices, the training unit runs two programs dedicated to summer employment opportunities for students and youth. These two programs — the summer career placement and the student training employment placement program — created 124 private and public sector positions l= ast year. This year, there are 139 positions available and $484,000 of funding = in the 2023-24 mains.
We hav= e a very good uptake on funding for students and new adult learners, but in terms of= the dual credit, the Department of Education is currently updating the dual cre= dit program where high school students are able to take post-secondary courses = and receive credit for them. This will help create more options for high school students to partake in pre‑apprenticeship and other apprentice progra= ms to advance their career at an early age. High school students can also enro= l in the youth and trades course if it is offered at their school.
I atte= nded a roundtable last year with many partners to have discussions about apprenticeship and helping young people access the trades. I know that ther= e is some really good work happening there. I am really looking forward to some = of the outcomes and incorporating them into our curriculum and ensuring that o= ur students have all of the advantages that they can have if they choose a tra= de.
Ms. White: I thank the minister for that. Just knowing that there were 456 apprentices registered last year, in 2022 — and on November 3, 2022, I was told t= hat the Yukon government had five apprentices on staff. What is that number this year? How many apprentices does the Yukon government currently have on staf= f?
Hon. Ms. McLean: There are still five apprentices working with the Yukon govern= ment — two heavy equipment and truck and transport technician apprentices = with Highways and Public Works and two cook apprentices and one baker apprentice with Health and Social Services.
While = the Yukon government employs journeypersons in various trades, it’s sometimes t= he case that the position available within the Yukon government may not offer = the scope of work required for apprentices to meet the training requirements for certification. Again, the numbers continue to rise in terms of apprentices = in Yukon. We are working very closely with all of our partners. There are a nu= mber of partners that have made this a high priority as well. We continue to loo= k at new and innovative ways to attract folks to the trades to begin with and th= en continue to support them.
In the= current year, as of January 31, 2023, the Yukon now has 482 registered apprentices, including 125 First Nation and 54 apprentices who identify as female. Again= , 50 journeyperson certificates were issued in 2022.
Ms. White: It is great that we are seeing additional apprentices register, but the Yukon government is the single biggest employer. It’s a really interesting thing. It’s all hands-on learning. You learn from the people above yo= u. You kind of learn traditional knowledge, if you want to talk about that, in= the ways of the trades in which they are working. It is a really important and valuable thing that journeypeople do take on ap= prentices. Knowing that the Yukon government had five out of 456 — it’s no= t a great number as far as training the next generation of journeypeople. I am going to drop that one. I’m going to move on.
I want= to ask one additional question, although I have many more than one, but I told my colleague the Member for Pelly-Nisutlin that I would give him a chance.
How ar= e students being supported in transitioning their Yukon public school IEPs to their universities? There was a really interesting letter that was sent = and just highlighted one individual’s experience, but I just want to know= how students are supported in transitioning their IEPs from here to universities Outside.
Hon. Ms. McLean: Individualized education plans are certainly a huge focus for = the Department of Education. It’s one of the areas that we’re focus= ing on in our community of inquiry under reimagining inclusive and special education. We are reviewing all services and supports for inclusive and spe= cial education, including the development and delivery of learning plans. There = is currently a community of inquiry made up of our education partners and department staff. This is looking specifically at individualized education plans, or IEPs, as part of the work plan for reimagining inclusive and special education. This community has been tasked= to update and implement a consistent IEP template process and structures that incorporate student voice and create accountabi= lity structures about IEPs. We are incorporating the= voice of students now as we go through this process.
We are definitely aware of the situation that the member is speaking about. It is being looked at in this review. An IEP, in my v= iew, should help a student be successful in life and on whatever path they choos= e to be on, and if it is an Evergreen Certificate that is received or a Dogwood Diploma that is needed to go on to university, those are all of the areas t= hat are being looked at right now in that review.
Mr. Hassard: I would like to thank my colleague from Takhini-Kopper King for allowing me t= he opportunity to get a question in here this afternoon. I also thank the officials for being here.
I have= a question regarding a constituent at Little Salmon who has been dealing with travel subsidies for her child to attend school in Faro. There have been numerous back-and-forth dialogues with the minister’s office from bot= h me and the mother. I am wondering if there is any update or anything that I co= uld provide for this family to let them know where the department is in terms o= f doing something for the travel subsidy for taking their child to Faro to school?<= /span>
Hon. Ms. McLean: = ;This is an area that we are certainly looking at and trying to find some creative solutions for. We know that the Edu= cation Act and the student transportation regulations outline the Department of Education’s responsibility for student transportation under a ministe= rial order from 2004. That is 2004 — the maximum transportation allowance payable is set at a certain rate. It is really difficult to have a discussi= on about a specific case on the floor of the Legislature, but we are very awar= e of the matter that the member is bringing forward and we continue to work with= the individual — as recently as a week or so ago. So, the work is ongoing= . It is definitely being worked on by our assistant deputy minister of schools a= nd it is one that we are well aware of. We will continue to work with the memb= er opposite — if that makes sense to the member — and/or will cont= inue to work with the family that is experiencing these difficulties around transportation.
Madam = Chair, seeing the time, I move that you report progress.
Chair: It ha= s been moved by the Member for Mountainview that the Chair report progress.=
Motion agreed to
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Madam Chair, I move that you report Bill No. 27, entitled= Community Services Statute Law Amendme= nt Act (2023), without amendment.
Chair: It ha= s been moved by the Member for Whitehorse West that the Chair report Bill No. = ;27, entitled Community Services Statute= Law Amendment Act (2023), without amendment.
Motion agreed to
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I move that the Speaker do now resume the Chair.
Chair: It ha= s been moved by the Member for Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes that the Speaker do now resume the Chair.
Motion agreed to
Speaker resumes the Chair
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
May th= e House have a report from the Chair of Committee of the Whole?
Chair’s
report
Ms. Blake: Mr. Speaker, Committee of the Whole has considered Bill No. 27, entitled Community Services Statute Law Amendme= nt Act (2023), and directed me to report the bill without amendment.
Commit= tee of the Whole has also considered Bill No. 208, entitled First Appropriation Act 2023-24, and directed me to report progress.
Speaker: You= have heard the report from the Chair of Committee of the Whole.
Are yo= u agreed?
Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Speaker: I d= eclare the report carried.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I move that the House do now adjourn.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Government House Leader that the House do now adjourn.<= /p>
Motion agreed to
Speaker: Thi= s House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
The House adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
The=
following
sessional paper was tabled April 17, 2023:
35-1-94
Fou= rth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts = (April 2023) (Dixon)
The following written questio=
n was
tabled April 17, 2023:
Writ= ten Question No. 37
Re: Dawson City recreation centre (Mostyn)
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