Opening Statement to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts of the Yukon Legislative Assembly

COVID-19 Vaccines in Yukon

(2023 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Yukon Legislative Assembly)

12 December 2023

Andrew Hayes
Deputy Auditor General

Mr. Chair, we are pleased to be in Whitehorse today to discuss our report on COVID‑19 vaccines in Yukon, which was presented to the Yukon Legislative Assembly on June 20th. I am accompanied by Tammy Meagher, the Director who was responsible for the audit. I would like to respectfully acknowledge all Yukon First Nations and acknowledge that this meeting is taking place on the traditional territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

As the COVID‑19 pandemic evolved across the world, the federal government procured vaccines and coordinated their distribution to the provinces and territories. Our audit examined whether Yukon’s Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Community Services, and Executive Council Office managed the rollout of COVID‑19 vaccines to protect the health and well‑being of Yukoners.

Overall, we found that the 3 departments worked well together to vaccinate residents quickly and on a priority basis, despite a lack of up‑to‑date and complete pandemic plans. Within weeks of receiving the first shipment of doses, the departments vaccinated vulnerable groups in Whitehorse and set up a mass vaccination clinic in the capital to progressively reach all age groups.

In parallel, mobile health teams travelled to remote communities so that anyone 18 years and older could be vaccinated in or near their home community. By November 2022, 81% of Yukoners had received 2 doses of the vaccine.

While the territorial government’s approach to the rollout was effective at getting people vaccinated, we found weaknesses in the monitoring of and reporting on the vaccine rollout. The Department of Health and Social Services did not have an efficient inventory management system to track the supply and inventory of vaccines and relied instead on manual documentation. This led to errors and discrepancies—for example, in the inventory levels and waste reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This also prevented the department from knowing exactly how many vaccines it had in its inventory at any given point in time.

We also found that the 3 departments did not give First Nations the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the planning of the rollout. For example, despite regular meetings with the departments, First Nations were briefed late on the rollout plan and had limited input throughout its implementation.

The Government of Yukon has recognized that there is a historical legacy of colonialism and discrimination in Canada and that many Indigenous people have experienced trauma, including discriminatory health-care policies and practices. In this audit, we saw a missed opportunity to better understand and meet the needs of First Nations through meaningful collaboration.

Engaging with First Nations should not merely be a box to be ticked on a list of required actions. It is a commitment that must be acted on to address and break down barriers, improve sensitivity and inclusion, and rebuild trust. The Government of Yukon needs to put actions behind its words and work in partnership early, often, and meaningfully with First Nations not just in emergencies but across the spectrum of programs and services it provides. This means engaging with First Nations at the outset and meeting with them regularly to reflect their feedback in government decisions and processes.

Mr. Chair, this concludes my opening statement. We are happy to answer any questions the committee may have. Thank you.