Revised - The Yukon Midwifery Program is temporarily placing clients under the care of the Solstice Maternity team.

The NDP, meanwhile, says the development reflects a failure of the Liberal government’s leadership.

Solstice Maternity will be responsible for all prenatal care and births while registered midwives will continue to offer postnatal care to current clients, as well as emotional support and information during pregnancy, the government said last week.

The shift is due to staff shortages that are preventing the Yukon Midwifery Program from being able to safely offer birthing options to Yukoners.

During this interim period, midwives will develop new services and education programs that will be available to all Yukoners, including breastfeeding support and prenatal education.

The midwifery program has contacted all clients to inform them of these changes.

“The safety and well-being of Yukoners is our top priority, and was at the forefront of the decision to temporarily place midwifery clients in the care of Solstice Maternity,” said Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.

“We are working closely with Solstice Maternity to ensure a smooth transition for all clients. Thank you to the Solstice Maternity team for their willingness to step in and support Yukoners during this time,” the minister added.

“We are grateful for their support and commitment to providing safe and high-quality care for these families.

“Health care labour challenges are happening across the country, and I want to assure Yukoners that steadfast recruitment efforts are underway.

“I look forward to seeing our Yukon Midwifery Program fully staffed and once again offering its high standard of care in the near future,” McPhee said.

Solstice Maternity offers comprehensive prenatal care to all people in the Yukon.

The maternity team is made up of family physicians who are passionate about helping people bring their babies into the world, the government said.

“The physicians at Solstice Maternity and Whitehorse General Hospital have been delighted to work in collaboration with registered midwives and the Yukon Midwifery Program since its inception,” said Solstice Maternity physician Dr. Susan Alton.

“We are happy to be part of the care team and to assist with care during this time of staffing challenges.”

The NDP is critical of what’s occurred.

“In the two years since the Liberals took over midwifery, pregnant people have only been able to access midwife services in the Yukon for six months – and now there are no midwifery services yet again,” said Annie Blake, the NDP MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin.

After the Liberals announced the new midwifery regulations in 2021, pregnant Yukoners could not access a midwife in the territory for over 15 months, the NDP pointed out.

“At every step of the way, this government continues to fail Yukoners who want to give birth with the support of a midwife,” said Blake.

“The closure of this program is another failure in the long list of missteps that this government has made in health care access.

“There are many who want to give birth in their home communities, yet they continue to face a major gap in midwifery services from this government.”

Advocates, along with the NDP, warned the government that its “flawed regulations” would hurt Yukoners, the party added.

After the regulations were put in place, Yukon midwives were prevented from delivering babies for at least a year, with no interim solution, the party recalled.

“Worse, the Liberals expected midwives to practise in another jurisdiction for a year, then come back to the Yukon only to receive a $40,000 pay cut,” the NDP said.

“Currently, the average pay for Canadian midwives in public health care is $125,000 annually while the Yukon’s program offers midwives $85,000 per year.”

It’s been a year since the government promised to review midwives’ wages, “and we’ve seen no changes,” Blake said.

“Clearly, the Liberals see the midwifery program as a very low priority. It shouldn’t be.

“Midwifery care is an ongoing need in our territory, and midwives deserve equal pay that is comparable to other jurisdictions.”

The NDP is calling on the Liberal government to immediately raise midwifery wages “to remain competitive with other jurisdictions.”

Asked about the NDP’s concerns, cabinet communications staff said in a statement this morning that “patient safety was a key factor in the decision for this temporary transition, and all clients have been accommodated through the transition.

“As of February 2023, the Yukon Midwifery Program will have only one registered midwife with hospital privileges who is able to provide the full scope of midwifery care. In order to provide safe care, there must be a team of registered midwives,” the statement noted.

‘This temporary transition is not unique to the Yukon and particularly in recent years, shortages of health care providers has been a common challenge faced by northern and remote jurisdictions.

“For example, on January 10, the Fort Smith midwifery program also announced it had to divert all births to Yellowknife due to a similar staffing shortage.

“The Yukon Midwifery Program is not closing. Registered midwives will continue to provide postnatal care and emotional support to clients.

“The Yukon government is actively working to recruit registered midwives and using all available resources to find people who are excited to work in the Yukon and who are willing to commit for a long period of time. Work is underway to review the job description and classification for midwives in the territory.”

The government, the statement added, “remains fully committed to sustainable midwifery care in the Yukon and we look forward to seeing our Yukon Midwifery Program fully staffed and once again offering its high standard of care in the near future.”