Premier Ranj Pillai has expressed concerns about Yukon Party MLA Yvonne Clarke’s communications to territorial government employees regarding the Yukon Health Authority.

Clarke sent e-mails to several employees of the Department of Health and Social Services.

“I am wondering if you know that Continuing Care will become part of the new Health Authority corporation if this new law is passed?” Clarke asked them.

“This means that all staff in Continuing Care, Yukon Hospital, EMS and Community Nursing will no longer be part of the Yukon Government. I am curious if you know about this.

“ ... My caucus team is opposed to this legislation. It will likely be passed by the Liberal and NDP coalition.”

Clarke urged employees to talk to their unions about the health authority’s implications for their jobs, pensions and benefits.

In an April 9 letter to Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon, Pillai writes: “I have multiple concerns:

“• I am concerned that members of your caucus are using employee e-mail addresses of Yukon government employees, for parti-
san purposes.

“• Yukon government employees have the right to work in a nonpartisan, apolitical environment.

“I am concerned that members of your caucus are distracting Yukon government employees while they are at work.

“• The points made by MLA Yvonne Clarke in her email to HSS staff are leading, and while they would not be out of place with the tone your caucus has set in the Yukon Legislative Assembly, it is unfair to involve Yukon government employees in your partisan efforts while they are at work,” Pillai wrote in the letter, released today.

“The email also clearly states the Yukon Party caucus does not support the Health Authority legislation,” the premier added.

“• Given that the e-mails in question originate from a former Department of Health and Social Services employee, who previously had access to Yukoners’ personal information, I am concerned that these e-mail addresses may have been acquired through her former employment.

“Given that these e-mails were sent by a member of your caucus, I assume that you endorsed this approach,” Pillai added.

“However, I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt as well as the opportunity to respond, correct the record and speak to your caucus colleagues about appropriate conduct when interacting with Yukon government employees.”

Dixon replied to the premier’s letter today.

“When conducting formal correspondence with the Government of Yukon and seeking a formal reply, we address letters to relevant ministers,” he wrote to Pillai.

“However, MLAs often engage with, and seek feedback from, their constituents or members of their community about matters that are before the legislative assembly.

“Given the large number of government employees in the Yukon, that engagement often involves corresponding directly with government employees.

“Corresponding with constituents or members of their community is an important aspect of the job of an MLA,” Dixon added.

“I should also note that the emails of Yukon Government employees are publicly available, and anyone can access them by searching on the Internet.

“Finally, I would refer you to Hansard to better understand our concerns with Bill 38,” the official Opposition leader added.