The Yukon Party is taking further action to reprimand two veteran MLAs following the ongoing text scandal that went public last Sunday night.

Stacey Hassard, a former interim party leader, and Wade Istchenko are now facing the prospect of being ordered to attend educational and training courses on workplace bullying and harassment prevention.

In a news release, the party stated: “On Friday, April 30, 2021, two Yukon Party MLAs sent offensive and rude text messages to a group of people that included the premier. These comments are entirely unacceptable and inappropriate, especially from holders of public office.

“Since that time, the Yukon Party has been reviewing appropriate next steps, including reviewing the Yukon Legislative Assembly Respectful Conduct Policy that was brought into force in 2019.

“This policy’s intent is to ensure that the legislative assembly fosters a respectful, healthy, and supportive environment and, where necessary, provide support for appropriate interventions.

“Despite the policy intending to offer training and resources for MLAs regarding respectful conduct, the newness of the policy has meant that those resources are not yet in place and available to MLAs.”

In an interview with the Star Thursday afternoon, party leader Currie Dixon said he had been looking at further actions against his members.

Once it became clear the resources he wanted to tap into from the legislature weren’t available, he took independent action.

“In reviewing this policy, it is clear that these actions were not compliant with the respectful conduct that is expected of MLAs,” the statement said.

“As a result, additional measures will be taken to redress this breach of the Respectful Conduct Policy.

“The two affected MLAs will be enrolled in education and training for workplace bullying and harassment prevention. Both MLAs are sincere in their commitment to learn from this incident, move forward, and ensure that it does not happen again.

“They are committed to accessing the necessary resources to do so.”

Dixon told the Star he will direct party officials to draft a Respectful Workplace Policy that will apply to MLAs, staff and volunteers of the party.

In the interview, Dixon, who appeared to be speaking from prepared notes, wouldn’t say if he was personally offended and embarrassed by the remarks Istchenko and Hassard directed toward him.

Nor would he explicitly say what the reactions of two of his female MLAs, Geraldine Van Bibber and Yvonne Clarke, were to the unsavoury and lewd texts.

“Obviously, no one is happy about this,” Dixon said.

He also didn’t directly address whether the mounting public pressure on the party to more severely discipline Hassard and Istchenko played any role in the decision to punish them further.

The party’s initial statement about their suspensions from shadow cabinet and committee duties did not indicate that further actions were planned.

In the last several days, First Nations organizations from across the Yukon have expressed their outrage over the situation, and demanded the resignation and/suspension of the MLAs.

Social media have also been rife with comments about the incident, with many people condemning what happened and asking for harsher discipline.

Neither Hassard nor Istchenko have made themselves available to speak in public this week.

Dixon also stuck to his talking points when the Star asked bluntly why he didn’t kick Hassard and Istchenko out of caucus to sit as independents.

He insisted he believed the punishment was harsh enough as it is.

He suggested the two men were repentant about their actions.

Dixon said being forbidden from the chance to participate in critics’ roles will be humiliating for the two political veterans.

He had no direct answer about how much of a punishment it was for the two men to retain their full salary and benefits while basically having few to no duties in the legislature.