Yukoners were left without a sign language interpreter until last week.

The situation occurred thanks to a five-week gap from when a YG worker stepped away from a role that has now been contracted to a Nova Scotia American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter.

The territorial government confirmed that Monday afternoon in the legislature. It did so after NDP Leader Liz Hanson asked in question period just how long the position had been vacant.

The worker’s notice came down in December 2018, with the employee’s last day scheduled for Feb. 8.

“The Public Service Commission (PSC) immediately reached out to interpreters who had previously worked with (the) Yukon government to see if any were available,” cabinet spokesperson Janine Workman wrote Monday afternoon, noting that was to no avail.

The commission then looked nationally and landed on an interpreter from Nova Scotia who will be contracted here for three months.

That person began working on March 18, roughly five weeks after the previous worker left on Feb. 8. That meant there was no interpreter for that time period.

Recruitment for a permanent position is now underway after a job ad went up on March 13. That posting notes the position’s salary as between $72,976 and $84,201 annually.

Richard Mostyn, the minister responsible for the PSC, acknowledged Monday there had been a lag in services.

“This was a pilot project that we decided to take on because it was so important to the members of the deaf community,” he said.

The program began in 2012 as a two-year pilot project before being extended for an additional three years.

March 2018 saw the government announce permanent funding for the program at $170,000 per year.

That made it the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer services free of cost for the public – a move widely lauded by the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. (Other areas have translation services available, but they are on contracts.)

Through the funding, YG covers both the administration cost and of the accredited position. It permits both those from the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as well as service providers, businesses, employers and other groups, to request the services.

A YG official noted last March the program served about 14 people and more than 45 organizations, businesses and government agencies.

Mostyn was flanked by interpreter Amanda Smith at the time, and the minister noted the position offered equal access to services for those deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Since its inception in 2012, well over 5,000 hours had been logged, including at Whitehorse General Hospital and at times crime scenes with the RCMP.

Serving the Whitehorse area, interpreters can also help those in need when they go to doctor’s appointments, pharmacies, children’s schools and even workplaces.

“This isn’t an easy job to fill,” Mostyn said. “It’s a fairly specific position.”

As soon as the government finds somebody, it will fill the permanent role, he said.

The posting notes that candidates must have a post-secondary eduction in ASL-English Interpretation Program.

They must also be in good standing with the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada and a number of years’ experience providing similar services (with an emphasis on medical settings).

The posting will close April 3.