Tasked with building Shäw Kwä’ą, the board will tackle health-care gaps flagged in 2020 report
The Yukon government and the Chiefs Committee on Health have named an initial board to lead the phased transfer of health and social services to a new authority, according to a government release issued Aug. 7.
The seven-member board will oversee the multi-year transition to a territory-wide health authority. Its powers and responsibilities include establishing governance, bylaws and corporate policies, according to Nigel Allan, director of communications with Yukon Health and Social Services.
The board is also tasked with developing a five-year strategic plan to better serve Yukon-wide and community-level wellness priorities identified in public engagement sessions, Allan said. He added the board will meet with Yukon’s Francophone community to support language access planning.
While the authority won’t deliver services during this phase, the board has been tasked with laying the foundation for the new health authority’s future mandate.
Stephen Mills has been appointed chair of the board, which also includes Alisa Alexander, Edmund Tan, Georgina MacDonald, Inga Petri, Jill Charlie and Maisie Smith.
The management and creation of health and social services are being transferred from the Yukon Hospital Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services to the new authority over several years, called Shäw Kwä’ą / Health and Wellness Yukon, the release states.
The Yukon government said it created Shäw Kwä’ą in response to systemic gaps in health care identified in the 2020 Putting People First report. Allan told the News the new health authority aims to unify fragmented services and improve outcomes for underserved communities, especially Yukon First Nations.
“A single organization responsible for delivering most health and some social services will be better able to coordinate and integrate services currently offered through multiple providers,” Allan wrote in an email to the News.
The legal framework for a central health authority passed the Yukon Legislative Assembly on April 29, 2024, following years of planning that began with a service review in 2019 and led to advisory bodies by 2023.
According to a May 2024 government release, $9.4 million was allocated in the government’s 2024–25 budget to support the creation of the new health authority.
The government’s Putting People First report found Yukon’s health system lacked cultural awareness for First Nations citizens, contributing to gaps in care, systemic racism and poorer access to health care in remote communities, Allan said.
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) provided a statement to the News explaining the new health authority may explore ways to reduce travel barriers for First Nations citizens by improving community-led services. That could include delivering care in familiar settings that reflect cultural values and keep people close to family and support networks.
“Community-level involvement in planning and delivery of services, including health and wellness plans, is critical to meeting the needs that communities identify,” CYFN’s statement reads.
Two remote Yukon communities recently faced service reductions and closures due to nursing shortages. Faro Health Centre scaled back operations in late July and closed, with reopening expected Sept. 5, while Ross River saw reduced services from July 2 to 10.
Asked how the board will support foundational agreements, Allan said Shäw Kwä’ą’s seven-member board is expected to work with the minister of health and the Chiefs Committee on Health to develop an accountability agreement with shared priorities.
Board members are also expected to work with Yukon First Nations to ensure cultural safety is embedded in how health-care services are planned and delivered.
“These efforts reflect the collaborative approach set out in the Health Authority Act and the commitment to reconciliation and equity as reflected in the findings and recommendations of the 2020 Putting People First report,” Allan wrote.
The Health Authority Act includes commitments to a formal partnership with Yukon First Nations in shaping Shäw Kwä’ą, according to the Council of Yukon First Nations. First Nations are expected to help guide the board’s work, including a cultural safety strategy, procurement policies and other service-related initiatives.
The act also outlines collaboration with the Yukon government, CYFN said. CYFN added the minister of health and the Chiefs Committee on Health will be involved in decisions such as approving Shäw Kwä’ą’s strategic plan and helping develop its accountability agreement.
“Collaboration with government is also planned, as the minister and Chiefs Committee on Health will collaborate on key decisions,” CYFN wrote.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com