Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers says the Yukon Party government remains willing to work with first nations on the Children's Act review.

Cathers was responding last Thursday to accusations from NDP health critic Lorraine Peter that the recent withdrawal from the review by the Council for Yukon First Nations underscores the government's failure to successfully address a most important issue.

Eleven of the territory's 14 first nations that belong to the CYFN withdrew because the Yukon Party did not live up to promises of working together, and indeed put forward draft legislation with no consultation with first nations, she said.

'This unilateral approach by the Yukon government may have derailed the whole revision process permanently,' Peter told the legislature. 'At the very least, it has left Yukon children and parents with no idea what might happen next. But the minister has been silent.'

Cathers argued the paper put forward was simply a draft discussion paper, not proposed changes to legislation.

Indeed, Cathers said, he was surprised the council did not release a similar discussion document. He then reaffirmed the Yukon government's willingness to work with individual first nations as it moves forward with the Children's Act review.

'I wish to reiterate to the member for Vuntut Gwitchin that we are committed to working with any and all first nations that wish to work with us in this process,' Cathers responded. 'We certainly hope that there is the full involvement of Yukon first nations across this territory.'

The government's handling of the review process also drew suggestions from the Liberals of a ruling government in denial.

'Just like his relationship with his minister of Education (John Edzerza), the premier's (Dennis Fentie's) relationship with Yukon first nations is in tatters,' Kluane MLA Gary McRobb, a former NDPer-turned-Liberal, told the legislature.