Yukon

575.

Under the Yukon First Nation Final Agreements, there is a requirement for the Yukon Government to prepare plans, in consultation with First Nations, aimed at reaching a public service representative of the Yukon population. A territory-wide plan was developed, and individual plans for the traditional territories of some of the signatory First Nations are being implemented.

576.

The First Nations Training Corps, which is now part of the Workplace Diversity Employment Office, has been substantially expanded to meet the demand for training. In addition, significant effort has been made to increasing training available to First Nation government employees, and to providing training on land claims and cultural orientation to government employees throughout the Yukon.

577.

The Workplace Diversity Employment Office was established in 2004-2005 to focus on two equity groups: people with disabilities and people of Yukon Aboriginal ancestry. The office incorporates and builds on the success of the First Nations Training Corps and a new training and work experience program for people with disabilities has been initiated.

578.

An intra-government partnership between two branches of the Yukon Government was established in 2002 to provide both on-the-job training and classroom opportunities for those receiving income assistance.

579.

Social assistance rates in Yukon have remained unchanged since 1992. From 2000 to 2004, the number of people accessing social assistance decreased approximately 19 percent. From 2003 to 2004, the number of people accessing social assistance showed a levelling off trend. The number of social assistance recipients has declined. The level of assistance available has increased through the provision of expanded and specialized case management services for clients, including clients with disabilities and those with serious employment barriers; for example, the provision of disability supports such as individual support agreements for day programming (families who care for their disabled relative can access funding to pay for day activity programming offered by local agencies), supported employment (clients are able to be placed in jobs for training and/or placed in subsidized employment positions), support for unpaid care givers (families are provided limited funding to arrange respite), assessments (software programs can confidentially evaluate a client's ability and readiness for employment providing the opportunity for more specialized case management in assisting the client overcome barriers to employment), and restorative goods and services (funding is available to pay for disability supports that might be required such as hearing aids, walkers, etc.).

580.

In 2000-2001, an additional $100 was given to beneficiaries of the Senior's Pioneer Utility Grant. As a result of amendments made to the Pioneer Utility Grant Act in 2003-2004, the payment to beneficiaries was increased from $600 to $750 per year and indexed for inflation, and the eligibility requirements were broadened by lowering to 55 the age at which surviving spouses are eligible.

581.

Proposed changes to the Territorial Supplemental Allowance (TSA) for persons permanently excluded from the workforce include: increase the current rate an additional $125/month, establish new process to ensure consistent and fairer determination of "disabled" for everyone, allow more earnings for persons with disabilities in the work force to be retained, and increase the exemption level to mirror level in Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits program. As of June 2005, TSA has increased the allowance level from $125 to $250 for individuals with severe and prolonged disabilities. In addition, individuals who are permanently excluded from the labour force can also earn up to $3,900 in income per year as part of the change to the TSA regulation.

582.

In Yukon, the National Child Benefit Supplement (see the Introduction of this report) is counted as income on social assistance budgets. The savings incurred by the Government as a result are reinvested in other programs such as:

• Supplementary Health benefits: Children's Drug/ Optical
• Early Childhood /Children at Risk Services: Children's Recreation Fund; Healthy Families; Food for Learning
• Child benefits and earned income supplements: Yukon Child Benefits

583.

As a result of on-going financial support received under the Early Childhood Development Agreement, the Healthy Families Program has doubled the number of families served since the beginning of the program in 1999 and the Child Development Centre continues to expand its services. The following key initiatives have also been supported:

• early childhood education and care programs;
• child care work environments;
• support for families;
• professional standards, quality and accountability, sustainability and funding of quality programs; and
• communication and public awareness of child care educators and the programs/services they provide.
  
  

584.

The most recent progress report of the Government of Yukon on Early Childhood Development activities and expenditures is available online at www.hss.gov.yk.ca/prog/fcs/index.html. Information on the Early Childhood Development Agreement can be found in the Introduction to the present report.

585.

In June 2003, the Minister of Health and Social Services was directed by Cabinet to undertake a full revision of the Yukon Children's Act. This revision is using a unique approach. The project is being lead jointly by co-chairs representing the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Yukon government. Over a period of two years, the consultation process will allow Yukoners the opportunity to share their views on the Act with the project team members who will be travelling to every Yukon community.

586.

Funding was provided in 2003 through the Primary Health Care and Transition Fund for co-ordination of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) prevention and early diagnosis, and information technology improvements.

587.

Advanced Education provides funding to social assistance clients to assist them in obtaining training opportunities not normally covered under the social assistance regulations.

588.

The Kids Recreation Fund (KRF) assists children and youth who are unable to actively participate in organized recreation programs because of financial hardship. The KRF helps parents with the cost of registration fees and /or special clothing, supplies and equipment.

589.

The following projects have received funding support from the federal Homelessness Initiative:

• The Salvation Army's Shelter program provides valuable, non-judgmental emergency housing to a basically disenfranchised population;
• Yukon Family Services Outreach Program offers referral services and informal counselling to youth who spend a lot of time on the streets;
• Option for Independence provides residential support to persons with FASD to assist them to live as independently as possible within a safe environment.
• An outreach van responds to the problems of youth addictions and homelessness by offering advice and support several evenings a week.

590.

The Decision Making, Support and Protection to Adults Act came into force on May 2, 2005. The legislation is comprised of three schedules that are separate but interrelated pieces of legislation: the Adult Protection and Decision-Making Act, the Care Consent Act, and the Public Guardian and Trustee Act. The new legislation provides a variety of tools and protections for people who have diminished capability to make their own decisions (e.g. financial, personal, health care). Different tools in the legislation are designed to assist people with different needs, for example, Supported Decision-Making Agreements, Representation Agreements, court-ordered guardianship, adult protection, substitute decision-making for care decisions, advance care directives, Capability and Consent Board and Public Guardian and Trustee.

591.

Between 2000 and 2004, the Government developed or increased resource allocations to the following initiatives:

• contributions to support families with autistic children;
• increased funding for the Child Development Centre for services to children with developmental delays;
• funding for the Council of Yukon First Nations to help support their First Nations Health Programs staffing requirements; and
• opening additional beds in long-term care/continuing care facilities for seniors or others requiring such care.
  
  

592.

Through the Canadian Northwest FASD Partnership, the governments of Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon, are working together to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome and to raise public awareness of the impact of FAS and related disorders. The partners share best practices, expertise and resource materials in the development of joint strategies and initiatives on FAS. For more information, see www.faspartnership.ca. Additional information on Yukon initiatives related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be found in Canada's Fifth Report on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

593.

The Yukon Government has updated its emergency health and emergency social services plan. Guidance for Local Authorities have been developed on the deliberate release of chemicals and biological, radioactive and nuclear agents. The Government participates in a coordinated national network involved in emergency planning, training and response, and coordination lead by the Public Health Agency of Canada.