The Yukon government will be looking into staff training and working conditions at the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter (WES) following a strongly-worded letter from two local labour unions and some pointed questions in the legislature during question period Tuesday.

The letter from the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) was released to the media by the Yukon NDP. It was addressed to Pauline Frost, the minister of Health and Social Services.

Kate White, the NDP leader, presented the letter during question period.

In it, the YEU stated “the reports of the situation facing the clients, guests and staff at the shelter are disturbing.

“It appears that the Yukon Government has simply thrown on-call auxiliary staff into the WES without providing the support needed to the front-line staff who must deliver this essential service.”

White referenced several sections of the lengthy letter during the questions she directed to Frost.

“The letter shows that the government isn’t giving front-line workers at the shelter the tools that they need to support the shelter’s residents and users,” she said.

“It lists critical gaps in training, such as mental health first aid, non-violent crisis intervention, and suicide intervention, to name a few.”

Frost bristled at White’s question.

“The hiring practices and what we do at the shelter is a priority. Like everywhere else in our system, we want to ensure that we find the right competency of skills. Where people fall short of those skills, we bring into place practices, and we do that in collaboration with our partners in the Public Service Commission,” the minister said.

“With regard to the letter from the union, we would be happy to work with the union on some of these concerns that have been brought to our attention.

“I do know that, just a few short weeks ago, we announced our approaches with the Public Service Commission around transparency and equity, as well as around Indigenous supports, Indigenous training, and awareness.”

The government took over the operation of the shelter from the Salvation Army two years ago, and is still making adjustments, she added.

“There are certainly opportunities for us to make improvements and I want to acknowledge that here and now,” Frost told the house.

“We have had a short time and a short window in the pandemic to work with the services that we have, and I want to just acknowledge the exceptional support that the staff are giving at the moment.”

That didn’t deter White, who continued to pepper the minister with questions.

“It has been two years since the government took over operations, and I think that, more than thanks, the shelter employees would really like essential training,” White said.

“The gaps in training at the shelter also have an effect on shelter residents. The services offered by the shelter rely entirely on staff being able to deliver them

“If the staff aren’t sure how to respond to a specific situation at the shelter, then what assurances are there that residents are receiving the help that they need?”

Frost continued to stay on message during the exchange.

“We are working with the department to address some of the concerns that have been brought to our attention. Is it perfect? No, it isn’t. Of course, one day, we would like to have a shelter that meets the needs of everyone.”

Now, the minister added, “we have the third party (the NDP) wanting us to do one thing one day and something else the next day — shut it down, protect the businesses, do all kinds of things. Right now, what we are doing is ensuring that the critical needs of the clients who frequent the shelter are there and supported.”

The YEU letter also references the government taking over the operation of the Fourth Avenue shelter.

“However, in the 22 months since then, there has been no consistent effort to provide the training, support or staffing needed to enable the front-line staff to safely meet the needs of clients and guests in this type of facility,” the union stated in the letter.

“While the YEU acknowledges the Yukon government is finally making some moves to regularize the staffing situation at the WES, much more remains to be done.

“It is unacceptable that many front-line staff, working through the pandemic with the most vulnerable population in the Yukon are still without paid sick leave or other medical benefits.

“Unacceptable, and a recipe for a potential tragedy. Two dollars an hour does not make up for this shortcoming.”

Premier Sandy Silver said he could add little comment to the situation when he met with reporters following question period. The government hasn’t had time to properly respond to the letter, he added.