Question #1 – Women’s Directorate
Question #2 – Devolution
Question #3 – Renewal – Liquor Store Move , Lotteries
Question #4 – Recruitment & Retention of Health Care Professionals
Question #5 – Whistleblowing Legislation
Question #6 – Management Exclusions
Question #7 – Yukon Hire
Question #8 – Renewal Stress on Employees
Question #9 – Community Development Fund
Question #10 – Free Collective Bargaining
Question #11 – Training Trust Fund and Yukon College Funding
Question #12 – Wages for Daycare Workers

Question #1  
     If elected would your government reinstate the Women's Directorate to its previous stand alone position with adequate funding and personnel to deliver its services, and if yes when could it be expected to occur?

NDP -The NDP platform includes a commitment to re-instate the Women’s Directorate.  It will be done as soon as possible after the election.
LIBERALS - The Directorate will remain under the Executive Council office where it will advocate within the Yukon government and with other governments on women’s issues. 
YUKON PARTY - Yes, we will reinstate the Women’s Directorate to its previous stand alone position.  It will be done as soon as we can logistically do so.
PSAC - Reinstate the Women’s Directorate to its former status within six months of taking office.

Question #2
     If elected would your government provide the Public Service Commission with a mandate to conclude an agreement with PSAC for devolving Northern Affairs Program Employees? Would you be prepared to include in the mandate direction to reach an equitable agreement on classification review, salary protection, seasonal indeterminate status and parental leave benefits?

NDP - A Yukon NDP government would move quickly to provide a new mandate to the Public Service Commission to resolve the outstanding issues.
LIBERALS - The Yukon Liberal Party believes the Government of Yukon must honour its obligations under the Devolution Transfer Agreement with regard to DIAND employee wages and benefits.
YUKON PARTY - We say we will ensure fair treatment for federal employees and Yukon government employees who are affected by the Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement.
PSAC - The Devolution Transfer Agreement (DTA) was negotiated between the Federal and Territorial governments, without input from the organizations that represent the employees.  By the government’s own admission it is underfunded and does not provide for fair and equitable treatment of employees.  The incoming government must direct the Public Service Commission to meet with the PSAC-YEU immediately to reach a mutually agreeable position on all outstanding issues.

Question #3
  The "Renewal" exercise included changes which were undertaken without any meaningful consultation. Notably the move of Whitehorse Liquor Store to Quartz Road and the dismantling of Yukon Lotteries Commission. If elected will your government undertake a review of "Renewal"? What criteria will your review be based on? Are you prepared to re-establish the Lottery Commissions independence and maintain a stand alone liquor store?

NDP - We would put a moratorium on the Service Centre, Liquor Store move and Grey Mountain School .  Specifically for the Service Centre and Liquor Store, a New Democrat government would also involve affected employees in discussions around options for the future.
LIBERALS - There has been absolutely no change to the independence of the Lottery Commission, nor have there been any changes in the way they allocate lottery funds.   The Yukon Liberal Party will continue with the planned move of the Yukon Liquor Store. 
YUKON PARTY - A press release entitled “Dealing with Government Renewal” should answer this question.
PSAC - The need for restructuring has never been demonstrated.  We are looking for a commitment to open a genuine review of these decisions with involvement of all stakeholders.  Decisions must be based on common sense and “real” identified needs, not just ideology.
Liquor Store: No move until proper, broad and meaningful consultation has been conducted.
Lottery Commission:  Must go back to reporting to a Cabinet Minister, not to a Manager-who-reports-to-a-General Manager-who-reports-to-a-Deputy Minister-who-reports-to-a-Minister.  

Question #4
  If elected what will your government do to address the problems that exist in the Yukon for recruiting and retaining Healthcare Professionals?

NDP - We would increase efforts to recruit and retain health care professionals.  Commitment to develop a northern health care training centre in the Yukon .  We can only do this through significant consultation with a variety of interests in our community.
LIBERALS - We will continue with our recruitment and retention strategy for health care professionals.  We will also establish a nurse mentoring program for new nurses to the territory.
YUKON PARTY - We will be Expanding education and training program in areas of particular relevance to the north, such as tourism, resource management and construction north of 60, health care professionals, care providers and teachers.
PSAC - Health Care Professionals in the Yukon receive the lowest compensation anywhere in the North, and close to the lowest in Canada .  We are looking for a competitive package offered to “all” Health Care professionals: Nurses, Technologists and all related professions.

Question #5
  Government employees are at risk should they "whistleblow" on improprieties they become aware of in the exercise of their employment duties. If elected, would your government introduce whistleblowing legislation? When would it be introduced? What process would you implement to develop legislation?

NDP -We see this as an early priority of a Yukon NDP government.  We would seek a cooperative process with employee unions in development of the legislation.  We hope to see it fully accomplished within a year of coming into office.
LIBERALS - The Yukon Liberal government tabled whistleblower legislation in April of 2002.
YUKON PARTY - We say we will implement effective “whistleblower legislation” which protects the anonymity of public employees who report abuse within the government and provides a clear process for a full and fair investigation.
PSAC - Whistleblowing is a very sensitive issue.  Workers coming forward to report wrongdoing in government must be able to do so without fear of reprisal or persecution.  Whatever legislation is proposed, it must be developed in close consultation with the organization that represents government employees.

Question #6
     Subsequent to the implementation of renewal, government unilaterally introduced a new process to include employees in the Management group. This process replaced a tri-party agreement between the government, Public Service Alliance of Canada and Yukon Public Service Staff Relations Board. Since the April 1, 2002 change more management exclusions have occurred than the cumulative total for the previous five years. If elected will your government be prepared to reinstate the tri-party agreement and undertake a review of Management in government?

NDP - New Democrats believe the arbitrary and unfair approach taken by the Duncan Liberals to circumvent the agreement is abhorrent.  We could go back to the previous way of doing things, while being open to a new approach if one is mutually agreeable.  We would be open to a review of the positions designated management in the past six months.
LIBERALS - After the Government of Yukon writes a job description, they review it’s duties and responsibilities against previous labour board decisions determine whether the job properly belongs in the management group or not.   If the union disagrees they are able to appeal it to the Staff Relations Board.  This process is totally in keeping with practices around the country. 
YUKON PARTY - We will be prepared to examine the tri-party agreement and work with the parties involved to restore it.
PSAC - The Yukon Government had no right to unilaterally declare positions excluded.  The common practice in ALL jurisdictions is that the employer, not the union, must demonstrate why a position should be excluded from the bargaining unit.  If the employer disagrees that a position should remain in the union, it is their right to appeal to a third party such as the Public Service Staff Relations Board.

Question #7
     The Yukon Hire Policy was amended by removing the three month waiting period and adding an exemption for Yukon students. Some of the changes can have a net adverse impact on Yukoners. If elected will your government undertake a review of the changes, and what actions are you prepared to take to give first consideration to "Yukoners"?

NDP - As originator of the Yukon Hire policy, the NDP would change the policy back to what it was before the Duncan Liberals got their hands on it.
LIBERALS - The Yukon Liberal government removed the 3 month residency requirement that was put in by the previous NDP government as it created barriers for Yukon students, and for Yukoners returning to the territory. 
YUKON PARTY - We can unequivocally say “yes” to giving first consideration to Yukoners.
PSAC - We agree that an amendment must be made to allow students from the Yukon to return to work here as residents.  The Yukon Hire policy was intended to give Yukon residents first dibs at Yukon jobs.  Removing the three months residency requirement makes the policy a farce.

Question #8
  The "Renewal" of government has left the majority of employees feeling insecure in their employment relationship. A comprehensive survey identified a strong disbelief that this exercise was undertaken to improve service. If elected what steps are you prepared to take to ease government employees’ anxieties and stresses related to "Renewal"? What is your view on this?

NDP -To deal with the problem, probably the best thing to do is to sit down with the PSAC/YEU and find ways to identify and deal with the negative effects of Renewal.  A cooperative approach would be more beneficial than more unilateral action from the employer.
LIBERALS - We will continue to encourage employees to access support through Career Development Counsellors and the Employee Assistance Program
YUKON PARTY - We are prepared to address government employees concerns regarding “Renewal”.
PSAC - We recommend a halt to any further restructuring pending “real and meaningful” consultation with employee representatives.  Government employees have told us very clearly that they are looking for stability and some measure of predictability in their future.

Question #9
  The Community Development Fund has been discontinued. Do you support this decision or are you prepared to reinstate the fund? What level of funding should community development have?

NDP - We will reinstate CDF.  We would also move to create jobs for Yukoners this winter through a supplementary budget soon after the election. 
LIBERALS - We created Project Yukon which is administered in a fair manner with clear criteria.  There are many competing demands on the resources of the government and we will continue with a balanced approach to government spending. 
YUKON PARTY - We say we will reinstate the Community Development Fund (CDF) to its original level while introducing a system of accountability, ensuring CDF does not sponsor unfair business competition and give preference to projects that generate revenue.
PSAC - The Community Development Fund must be reinstated and enhanced.  This fund helps to balance the economic opportunities for smaller rural communities and create much needed jobs.

Question #10
  The PSAC/YEU has experienced, over the last couple of decades, a broad range of attitudes toward collective bargaining from different governments both federal and territorial. To provide some level of certainty for the future we pose the following question. What is your definition of free collective bargaining and how will you be sure that your views are implemented by the Public Service Commission?

NDP -By free collective bargaining, we mean the right of all employees to determine, without interference or influence from their employer or any other person or group, who will represent them in their official dealings with their employer. This includes the right to negotiate, conclude and enforce contractual agreements stipulating the terms and conditions of employment, including the right to take lawful job action against the employer as warranted. Too often, governments as employers have used their unfair advantage of law-making to undercut employee rights.  This is abhorrent.  A fair and democratic process must be used to reach collective agreements.
LIBERALS - The Yukon Liberal Party supports free collective bargaining
YUKON PARTY - We intend to work with our employees in a fair, cordial and respectful manner and believe in free collective bargaining.
PSAC - We ask this question at every opportunity since 1994 when the Yukon Party government passed legislation in the middle of negotiations to do away with free collective bargaining and impose their will upon their employees.  This was coupled with a wage roll back of 2%.  We know what “Free Collective Bargaining” means.  We expected a response that would demonstrate an understanding of that concept and provide the party’s definition.  Read the leaders’ answers and you be the judge!

Question #11
  Funding levels for Yukon College have not increased to meet normal inflation and economic increases - coupled with recent decisions to change the Community Training Fund results in community campus cuts and potential Ayamdigut campus cuts. If your party forms the next government what steps will you take to rectify this situation?

NDP - A Yukon NDP government would bring back training trusts, and increase funding for Yukon College .
LIBERALS - The Training Trust Funds have not been cut.  They are a number of funds, like bank accounts, to be accessed by communities and groups for training.  I understand that Yukon College would like to receive increased funding that is over and above the salary increases that arise from collective bargaining but in order to do that the money would have to be taken away from some other program or service being offered to Yukoners. 
YUKON PARTY - We state our intentions regarding education in our policy manual under the title “Achieving a Better Quality of Life”.
PSAC - Re-establish the Community Training Fund and enhance the level of funding.  The move to do away with the training fund has shifted the balance of opportunities away from individuals in the rural communities of the territory.  At the same time, the funding to Yukon College must be brought up to 21^st century levels.

Question #12
  Childcare Workers in the Yukon are poorly paid in relation to the responsibilities they have for children. Would your government increase the wages of these workers through direct subsidies that must be passed on by their Employer?

NDP - Part of our platform is to provide additional government funding through Direct Operating Grants so child care workers can receive better wages. We would also work on a number of other fronts, including an immediate review of child care subsidy levels.
LIBERALS - The Yukon Liberal government recently began regular meetings with daycare and dayhome representatives to discuss the challenges they are facing.  So far, a clear message from the child care field is that they desire both increased wages and more training opportunities.  We would like to work with both daycares and dayhomes on these issues.   If re-elected we would like to continue with these regular meetings as they will be key to good decision making. 
YUKON PARTY - Under “Caring for Children” in our policy manual, we state our extensive plans for improving children’s care in the Yukon .  This is a very high priority for our government.
PSAC - Child care is in crisis.  Child care workers are living below the poverty line, yet they do one of the most important jobs in society.  Research confirms the direct links between the training of child care providers, the quality of care and positive child development outcomes.  To attract top quality personnel, wages of child care workers must go up substantially.   Government should compensate the Daycare/ Dayhome operators for their shares of CPP, EI and other taxes or the government should pay through child care services directly to the workers.