Opposition accuses Yukon gov't of looking to privatize parts of health-care system

Yukon's opposition parties are accusing the territorial government of potentially opening the door to private investment in the health-care system — while the government is dismissing those claims as "ridiculous."

In the legislature on Monday, NDP Leader Kate White pointed to a request for proposals (RFP) recently issued by the government to develop a "comprehensive health system development plan," focused on infrastructure including hospitals and health centres.

White highlighted one of the RFP's stated objectives, which is to "determine if there are target areas to explore alternative procurement approaches, such as P3 [public-private partnerships] or other models" for health-care infrastructure.

The NDP leader then asked the health minister "exactly what parts of our health care system she is open to privatizing."

Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee responded by saying the RFP, and the health system development plan it refers to, are about infrastructure — not the delivery of health-care services.

McPhee also said public-private partnerships are worth considering as a way to make improvements to health infrastructure in the years ahead, "which is absolutely desperately needed, has been ignored for a long time, too long."

Premier Ranj Pillai also weighed in, saying some of White's comments were "absolutely inaccurate." 

"What we're seeing is an attack just because we're looking at an option," the premier said. 

Pillai also suggested the possibility of partnering with Yukon companies, in particular with First Nations development corporations.

"I think that that's the true intent and spirit of Chapter 22," he said referring to Yukon's Umbrella Final Agreement, and the commitment to support economic development for First Nations.

The opposition parties were not reassured, however. 

Speaking to reporters after Monday's sitting, Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon said he was "absolutely shocked" by what he'd heard.

"It's something I have never heard any Yukoner suggest to me, that we should be privatizing aspects of our health care system," Dixon said.

"The premier has no mandate for this kind of privatization. If he wants to pursue privatizing Yukon hospitals, he should call an election — because he's got no mandate to pursue this kind of privatization of health care."

White also spoke to reporters after, and said "the real shock" was hearing Dixon and the Yukon Party — typically at the opposite end of the political spectrum on most issues — was in agreement with her party.

"That's wild. Like you know, typically it comes from conservatives that we talk about privatization," White said.

"The privatization of health care will never be acceptable, because it does not improve health care outcomes. And it is about profit."

The premier also shot back, telling reporters the two opposition parties had taken a "ridiculous position."

"Nobody's looking to privatize the services anywhere that exist," Pillai said.

He also suggested there was nothing radical in considering private-sector involvement in health-care infrastructure. 

"What we already have is, almost every health office in our community, and as well as our walk-in clinics, are all in buildings downtown, they're not owned by the Yukon government ... So let's be open here. We already use buildings that are owned by the private sector," he said.

"What you saw today was really a lot of misinformation."