The Yukon government is committed to creating meaningful change that benefits vulnerable Yukoners and will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to ensure that all Yukoners have a place to call home.
On behalf of the Government of Yukon, the Yukon Housing Corporation (YHC) and the Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) have accepted all recommendations from the Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
The Standing Committee’s six recommendations are closely aligned with the action plan to address the 2022 report from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG), as well as ongoing work to implement recommendations from Putting People First, which is the government’s road map to creating a health and social system that better serves the needs of Yukoners. Implementation of the action plan to address the OAG report began in summer 2022.
Using evidence-based decision-making and a collaborative approach, YHC and HSS will continue to operationalize YHC’s five year strategic plan titled “Bringing the Future into Focus”, as well as YHC’s Community Housing Framework, the action plan addressing the OAG report, the Putting People First report. YHC and HSS will incorporate the Standing Committee’s six recommendations into their work.
Our government remains committed to increasing safe, accessible housing opportunities for all Yukoners. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for their recommendations, which will help our government continue to improve how we support and house those who need it the most.
Safe, accessible and affordable housing is an important part of promoting positive health outcomes and facilitating access to essential social services. I look forward to continuing to work with partners to implement these recommendations and create meaningful change for those most in need.
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In May 2022, the OAG released a report following a performance audit on the state of housing for vulnerable Yukoners. The audit focused on emergency shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing and social housing available in the territory between April 1, 2015, and November 30, 2021. The state of the private rental market and home ownership in the territory were not included in the audit. The Office of the Auditor General made nine recommendations, all of which were accepted by the Government of Yukon.
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Also in May 2022, the Yukon Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services signed a memorandum of understanding to create a framework for cooperation on affordable housing and housing with services in the Yukon that provides vulnerable Yukoners with adequate, suitable, and affordable housing.
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The Public Accounts Committee discussed the OAG’s audit report at its meetings between May 25, 2022 and June 20, 2023.
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The role of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is to ensure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in public spending.
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The Yukon Housing Corporation Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the 5-year strategic plan that sets the direction and priorities for the Corporation. The current plan, “Bringing the Future Into Focus”, was introduced in 2018.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Julie Ménard
Yukon Housing Corporation Communications
julie.menard@yukon.ca