The Yukon Party is skeptical about today’s opening of a new walk-in clinic, but hopes – for patients’ sake – that it will be a success.

In a surprise move, the Yukon government announced Friday it would open its new walk-in clinic today.

The temporary location is 9010 Quartz Rd., across from the Walmart store.

The clinic was part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) between the Liberals and the NDP that was struck last January.

It was scheduled to open by the end of January 2024 or it would have been in danger of violating the CASA.

“This is not the first time this minister has made an announcement about the opening of a new walk-in clinic,” Brad Cathers, the Yukon Party’s Health and Social Services critic, said Friday.

“In April 2022, the minister of Health (Tracy-Anne McPhee) told Yukoners that a ‘government-supported’ walk-in clinic would be opened in the summer of 2022.

“That failed because of the flawed approach taken by the Liberal government, and left minister McPhee blaming doctors” Cathers said.

“Last month, we raised concerns about whether the model the government was considering would be successful at attracting a new doctor from outside of the Yukon, or if the walk-in clinic would poach a family physician from an existing practice.

“The announcement provides no information about if this is a new physician, or one poached from another clinic. If the doctor was already practising here, it will mean other Yukoners are without a doctor, or waiting longer for appointments,” Cathers added.

There are currently thousands of Yukoners without a family doctor, he pointed out.

“While we are skeptical about this most recent attempt at opening a walk-in clinic, we hope for the sake of Yukoners that it will be successful.

“In contrast to the Liberals, the Yukon Party would make recruitment of doctors a priority, including increasing incentives to move here, supporting residency programs, and increasing the Medical Education Bursary,” Cathers added.

The medical clinic will provide accessible and essential non-urgent health care services.

The clinic will be relocated in the new year to a permanent site at Mah’s Point, on Second Avenue at Jarvis Street.

Besides the physician, it has a nurse and other health care professionals.

It’s open Mondays through Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s designed to provide same-day treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, necessary medical procedures, as well as referrals and prescriptions for non-narcotic medications for Yukoners without a dedicated primary care provider.

The clinic does not provide emergency services, long-term care, specialist consultations on-site, major surgical procedures, advanced diagnostics or maternity and childbirth services.

To help manage patient traffic as the clinic opens, Yukoners should call 471-0035 or email whitehorsewalkin@yukon.ca to check wait times and book a same-day appointment.

The facility will close from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, re-opening Jan. 2.

Meanwhile, the NDP caucus said this morning it’s celebrating the new clinic.

“(Today’s) opening delivers another win New Democrats secured for Yukoners through the party’s CASA with the Yukon Liberals, signaling hope for the territory’s chronically underfunded and massively understaffed health care system,” the NDP said.

The clinic adds to the “bold, innovative health care solutions the Yukon NDP has brought through CASA, including the hugely successful Yukon Dental Program, and Whitehorse’s supervised consumption site,” the caucus added.

Party Leader Kate White said, “The Liberals keep reminding Yukoners that we’re in a global health care shortage – usually to explain away gaping holes in the Liberals’ health care system.

“That we opened a walk-in clinic with a doctor and nurse practitioners shows that government can make the system better when the NDP drives the agenda.”

Annie Blake, the party’s health and social services critic, said the clinic offers hope to Yukoners who struggle to access health care services.

“Whenever people talk to me about health care lately, it’s to point out something that’s missing,” Blake said.

“Their community health centre was closed when they needed help because the centre didn’t have enough staff, or they couldn’t get a mammogram or a CT scan because the Yukon Hospital Corporation had to cut back services.

“I hope that by opening this clinic, more Yukoners will have access to health care when they need it,” Blake said.

The NDP said it’s waiting for the government to deliver on other CASA commitments, including a managed alcohol program