The Yukon government was quizzed on everything from trade agreements to social issues Tuesday night as Premier Dennis Fentie wrapped up his final community tour in the territory's capital.

Fentie has held public meetings throughout the territory over the last few weeks, listening to issues brought forward from Yukoners.

Tuesday's session opened with Wayne Hryniuk arguing the territory shouldn't sign onto the Trade Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement between Alberta and B.C. because it would take away things like the Yukon fair wage schedule and other local incentives.

'Please don't get us involved in this,' the construction worker said.

The deal is designed to break down trade barriers among the provinces and allow for better labour mobility.

However, as a worker who takes jobs in other regions, Hryniuk has argued the agreement doesn't address issues he faces, such as recognition of his Yukon health benefits or making it easier to haul equipment among provinces.

While the territory isn't signed onto TILMA, the government is assessing the deal.

'It may not make any sense to the Yukon at all,' Fentie told Hryniuk.

'You could be entirely correct, but we'll go through that assessment process. If there's any merit in proceeding beyond that, it would begin with an intensive public engagement.'

Other levels of government would be consulted as well, the premier promised.

While the government was advised not to sign onto TILMA, other issues around trade and labour continued to be brought to the government.

In one case, cabinet ministers heard of the Bold Rush energy drink being able to get back to the territory after its first commercially produced batches were made in Manitoba.

The government also heard of the 14-month period it has taken for a professional geologist to be licensed in the Yukon because of the process it takes through B.C. It would be good, he said, if the territory had its own process for licensing professionals.

While Fentie said he would take the idea 'under advisement,' he also noted the Yukon's long-standing association with its southern neighbour on such matters.

The government also heard of residents heading south for other services, such as psychiatric assessments.

One woman spoke about her son. Often in trouble with the law, she suspects he may have mental health issues but hasn't been able to get him any sort of psychiatric assessment in the territory.

Now, she will be flying with him to B.C. to have that assessment done.

'There's no help, and I'd like to know why there's no help,' she said.

Other social services that are available in the territory just aren't enough to help sometimes, she suggested.

The 30-day residential rehab program doesn't give addicts enough time to even come clean from drugs like heroin and crystal meth, let alone deal with the addiction, she argued.

She mentioned a friend who committed suicide just a couple of days after getting out of the program because she couldn't kick heroin.

Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers invited the woman to contact his office about the situation only to be informed a letter she had written to his office hadn't been replied to.

It's only after she was fortunate to find a crew of volunteers to help her out that she's been able to get anywhere, she said.

The woman also told the government she's been doing the work of probation officer, police officer, social worker and many other professionals as she deals with her son.

While coping with her son's trouble with the law, she said, there have been times she contacts her son's probation officer when there's a problem only to be told to call the RCMP. Police then send her back to the probation officer.

Cathers and Fentie pointed to the justice and health initiatives underway. The two ministers argued that while there may still be work needed to be done, both fields are much improved from where they were two years ago.

A second psychiatrist has been contracted by the government, the street crime reduction initiative is underway, and the No Fixed Address outreach van is running six nights a week now, they pointed out.

The ministers also mentioned the territory now has a Substance Abuse Action Plan, the planning for correctional reform, including a new jail, and the continuing work in health care where the government is faced with recruitment and retention challenges, it was noted.

Also calling for improved services in health care was Judy Pakozdy, executive director of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon (FASSY).

Along with wondering when the Children's Act review will be ready, she also noted the need for an alcohol and drug treatment program specifically for those who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) and the need for supportive housing for people with disabilities.

It's expected the Children's Act review will be ready for tabling in the legislature during the spring 2008 sitting, Cathers said.

He noted there will be announcements shortly in other areas around FASD, but he couldn't pre-announce initiatives at the meeting.

'It is a major project. It is a major enhancement,' he said.

There were also suggestions that the territory should have some sort of housing available to those who are here for the short term, such as the rooms that used to be offered at the former YWCA facility in Whitehorse.

There's a lack of affordable housing, Leslie Robert told the government.

Jim Kenyon, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp., pointed out that with the former Canada Winter Games athletes' village residence now being used for seniors' housing, there will likely be a cascading effect on housing that's available.

Most speakers were critical or brought forward items they argued should be worked on. However, Hospice Yukon praised the government for its financial support of the organization.

Cathy Routledge noted that in southern jurisdictions, other hospice organizations, which provide end-of-life services, carry 'huge burdens' of raising their own funds to provide services.

Hospice Yukon also benefits from the support of more than 100 volunteers, she noted.