Government documents show Jim Kenyon pushed a fellow cabinet minister to pay for a spot at a vet college for an employee of the vet clinic he owns after promising her and the school that the funding would come through.

Through Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) requests, the Star has obtained a number of documents concerning the recent controversy surrounding Kenyon's involvement in the government's decision to pay for a spot at a college for an employee of his veterinary clinics.

Kenyon became caught up in controversy in November when it became known that the government had purchased a position at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan for an employee of his veterinary clinic.

Since most positions at vet schools across Canada are funded by provincial governments, traditionally the Yukon has to pay for a position for one of its students, otherwise they are considered foreign students.

The first document is an e-mail dated Jan. 13, 2004 which Kenyon sent to Education Minister John Edzerza. The document shows that Kenyon fully expected Edzerza to find the money for the spot at the college

'We have a rather good applicant to the veterinary school and a constituent,' Kenyon wrote.

'As we have dropped the annual payments to WCVM (the vet college), may I ask that you confirm to the WCVM and to the University of Saskatchewan that the Yukon will support her as a resident? We spoke of this before and you indicated that this was the case. Confirmation may be very helpful since their website specifies that this is a condition of acceptance into the programme.'

It took Edzerza more than six weeks to reply to Kenyon, which he did via a letter dated March 3, 2004.

'Thank you for your e-mail of January 13, 2004, requesting information on behalf of your constituent who is interested in attending the Western College of Veterinary Medicine,' Edzerza replied.

'Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm the support for this person's attendance at WCVM.'

In that first letter, Edzerza raised the concern of the cost of buying the seat. However, the minister listed a price tag for the seat that he has never made public.

Since this came up in November, Edzerza has only said that the seat cost the Yukon $25,000 for this year, prompting speculation it would cost $100,000 for the entire four-year course.

But the letter indicates it will cost even more than that.

'Until 2007, the annual cost to Yukon for support of this program is $25,000 per student. In 2007, the costs rise to $60,000. If the program were fully re-instated, the costs would be $240,000 per student for the four-year program.

'As a small jurisdiction, Yukon can no longer afford the high costs of purchasing a seat at WCMV (sic),' Edzerza wrote, winding up the letter.

But Kenyon does not give up, writing Edzerza back on Apr. 13 in an e-mail which was a forward of an e-mail from the student.

'I received this letter last Thursday and write to express my concern,' the minister wrote.

'During the budget process last year, we discussed my concern over a particular student who was/is the only likely candidate for such a position. You were very clear and specific in assuring me that this programme would readily re-instated should a qualified applicant be identified. This is why I gave the budget my support. I passed this information on to the student and assured her that she had nothing to be concerned about.'

'I seek your early resolution on this matter before the admissions committee makes commitments in other directions and you honor the commitment to re-instate this policy by giving notice to WCVM as soon as possible.'

Attached to the e-mail is an e-mail from someone, apparently the student although the address is blacked out, titled: Help with vet school.

Most of that e-mail is blacked out except the following statement: '�- and I'm not sure where to go in the gov to find out more about the yukon (sic) no longer sponsoring a seat, when they decided it, is going to be permanent �-'

In that e-mail, Kenyon reveals that he promised the money not just to the student but to the college as well.

'In writing a letter of reference on behalf of the the student to the college, I again reiterated that the minister of Education had given me assurances that the programme would be re-instated for a qualified applicant.'

In his second letter, dated Apr. 14, 2004, Edzerza reiterates to Kenyon the decision not to fund.

He indicates entering the program will cost even more money, going up to $60,000 per year by 2007.

'This level of expenditure far exceeds any amount paid on behalf any other Yukon resident and is far higher than the amount paid at the time the government of Yukon made the decision to withdraw from the program. This level of expenditure coupled with the labour market research indicating there is no shortage of veterinarians in the Yukon supports the decision of the government to withdraw from the program,' Edzerza wrote to his colleague.

Kenyon tries again with a letter to Edzerza on Apr. 19, 2004.

'This individual (blacked out). She is a Yukoner and has been since birth. (Blacked out). She has absolutely no claim on to any other residence in Canada.'

Kenyon mentions the promise he made to the student.

'I am also concerned that our discussion of last year on the dropping of the program and your (then) guarantee to reinstate it if there were a qualified applicant led me to give her assurances that this would be done. She has applied to WCVM on this basis.'

Kenyon also says he must correct Edzerza that there is no labour market shortage in the Yukon.

'Yukon Veterinary Services (the clinic Kenyon owns), the only practice working with large animals and agricultural operations in the territory, has been trying to recruit a veterinarian for nine months now without luck,' he wrote.

Edzerza, however, reiterates his concerns again, this time in a letter on Apr. 22, 2004.

'I know that you really wish to see your constituent supported by the government but my decision to withdraw from sponsorship of the program stands,' wrote Edzerza.

'As I mentioned in my letter April 14, program changes by the WCVM will force an increase in sponsorship costs that would make funding of a Yukon student by the government too expensive.'

The minister explains why he feels this unfair.

'All students are facing rising post-secondary education costs and none more so than Yukon students who must deal with higher travel costs. I believe, Jim, that it is the role of the government to ensure that it continues to support Yukon students on an equitable basis. There is already one Yukon-resident student attending the veterinary college in Prince Edward Island and another one taking pre-veterinary college courses at Medicine Hat College. These two students are working their way toward a career in veterinary medicine with no more support than what every other student is entitled to.'

'You also said that my decision was based on incorrect labour market information. But staff members in advanced education contacted the four veterinary clinics listed in the Yukon phone directory on March 4. They were informed by the clinics that there was no shortage of veterinarians in Yukon and no problems experienced in recruiting veterinarians. If there were a labour market shortage in the field, the clinics informed staff, it was with veterinary technicians,' wrote the minister.

'In conclusion, I believe that rising costs, a healthy labour market and the need for fairness in support for Yukon post-secondary students are strong reasons why the Yukon government must withdraw from sponsorship of a seat at WCVM.'

The only letter in the batch from Kenyon is written on Legislative Assembly letterhead. The second e-mail he sent is addressed at the bottom from Jim Kenyon, MLA Porter Creek North.

However, the first e-mail is from Jim Kenyon, minister responsible for the Environment.

While this is the last of the correspondence between ministers, it is not the end of the situation.

In an e-mail on June 18, 2004, Jim Kenyon's ministerial executive assistant, Valerie Green, warned Edzerza's executive assistant, Roxanne Vallevand, about possible repercussions to not funding the seat.

'Thought I would advise you and John that the girl that has applied to the U of S (University of Saskatchewan) vet college has spoken to a lawyer and could possibly be taking action against the government if she does get accepted and cannot attend because Yukon is not funding her. This is the issue that Jim raised at caucus on several occasions, including the last caucus meeting he attended,' Green wrote.

A week later, Green wrote to Vallevand again about the situation.

'(Name blacked out) has now been accepted at the U of S vet college, only because Jim contacted the dean there to let him know that the funding would be forthcoming. She would not even have been considered as an applicant had he not done this because the Yukon does not technically have a seat held any longer since we ceased funding a year ago.'

By June 29, 2004, Vallevand wrote in an e-mail to the Education deputy minister, Judy Moore, making it clear that the minister may change his mind.

'We would like to have more information on this issue before a decision is made,' Vallevand wrote.

In an e-mail on July 7, 2004, the Education department indicates that an eligible student lost out a year before.

In that e-mail, Carole Theriault of the student financial assistance and awards branch gives Gordon McDevitt, the head of advanced education, and her boss, a list of students interested in applying to the veterinary college.

All names are blacked out. However, the note indicates there was an eligible student in 2003, whose sponsorship was not approved by the government.

A departmental briefing note points out the rejection came after the Yukon Party government's decision 'to terminate the seat purchase in the 2003-04 fiscal year.'

The note later goes on to say the department sent a letter to the associate dean of the school, Dr. Jeremy Bailey, that the Yukon would not continue sponsoring a seat at WCVM.

The woman who was approved and given the spot at the school was not the only Yukon student to apply for 2004.

However, in an e-mail from Theriault dated July 7, 2004 to Brent Slobodin, also of advanced education, only one student was considered to be from the Yukon when it came to the application.

'The other student was considered through Alberta as (an official) felt she did not meet Yukon residency rules according to her application to WCVM,' Theriault wrote.

Since Kenyon wrote the person he was lobbying on behalf of is a Yukoner and has been since birth, it makes it clear he is lobbying on behalf of the person the government eventually bought the seat for, his employee.

A visit to the website of Kenyon's Yukon Veterinary Services lists the woman among employees. It reveals she still works there during summers and over Christmas break, and that she is now attending the veterinary college.

Theriault goes on to reveal that Kenyon is the only reason his employee was interviewed by the school in the first place.

'I inquired about the process of admission. When a Yukon student applies they send the application to us first to determine eligibility and sponsorship. An interview is not scheduled if the Yukon is not sponsoring the student. Dr. Bailey, associate dean of the WCVM program indicated that in (name blacked out) case the interview was scheduled as a result from a call from Minister Jim Kenyon.

'Jim Kenyon assured him verbally and in (name blacked out) letter of support for the WCVM program that the real minister of Education, John Edzerza, assured him that when an eligible student is accepted to the WCVM program funds would be reinstated.

'Dr. Bailey also indicated that he informed minister Kenyon of the letter from Gordon McDevitt indicating that we were not able to participate again due to the high cost. Mr. Kenyon indicated to Dr. Bailey that Gordon McDevitt was just down the hall from him and that he would be talking to him and things will be sorted out.'

Two days later, on July 9, 2004, deputy minister Moore writes to Vallevand explaining the difference between the two students.

'The second student (named blacked out) was interviewed with the 2004 WCVM panel apparently on the basis of a direct intervention (as we discussed earlier) indicating that funds would be made available.'

Moore also points out that a student qualified in 2003 but the government refused to pony up the money for that student.

'Roxanne, this needs to be considered as well,' Moore wrote.

The documents received through ATIPP do not make it clear why the government changed its mind from Edzerza's unequivocal stance in April that the money would not be made available.

On Aug. 3, 2004, Nancy Flemming, a student financial services officer, writes to Slobodin that, as per his request, she informed Bailey and the student by phone that the 'government of Yukon will sponsor a seat this academic year.'

On Aug. 10, 2004, Slobodin, in the role of acting assistant deputy minister of advanced education (McDevitt's position), wrote to the student.

'This is to inform you that the government of Yukon will be sponsoring a seat for the 2004-05 academic year at the Western Canada Veterinary College of Medicine.'