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WHITEHORSE - A recent letter from the Yukon Hospital Corporation to all three political parties provides more confirmation of chronic underfunding of Yukon Hospitals under the current Liberal government and their NDP partners. The letter, signed by the Chair of the Yukon Hospital Corporation Board, CEO, and Chief of Medical Staff, is highlighted by their joint statement that ‘significant annualized increases to O&M funding’ are necessary ‘to solve critical gaps.’
For years, Yukon Party Health Critic Brad Cathers has urged the current government to provide more funding for Yukon's Hospitals, calling the government out for chronic underfunding. Despite the agreement between the NDP and Liberals, budget after budget failed to deliver the necessary resources for our health care system. Cathers has also supported Yukon doctors' repeated calls that sounded alarm bells, which fell on the deaf ears of the territorial Liberal and NDP partnership.
In a letter dated February 17, 2025, doctors warned, 'Urgent solutions are needed to rectify this crisis.’ That followed a Yukon Medical Association report that four family medical practices had closed in the territory in the past 18 months and a surgeon had recently left due to ‘systemic underfunding’ of surgical services. It was also concerning that in 2024, the government had a zero-for-153 record of convincing visiting doctors to stay permanently in the territory.
In the call to action included with the recent letter, Yukon Hospital leadership warns political parties, “To meet the challenges our hospitals face, commitment to action is critical.” The Yukon Party has been calling for that action for years and is committed to making this a top priority if elected to government.
"Years of neglect by the NDP and Liberals caused the chronic hospital funding shortfall that has left our health care system in crisis," added Cathers. "It's time for a change in government. Only the Yukon Party will take the necessary action to ensure our hospitals have the resources they need to meet the needs of Yukoners."
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