Government of Yukon releases the What We Heard report for the Health Professions Act public engagement

Press Release

August 8, 2025

The Government of Yukon has released a What We Heard report summarizing the input received during public engagement on a renewed Health Professions Act. This input will help create a modernized and flexible Act that protects the public and supports health professionals in delivering quality care to Yukoners. The goal is to create umbrella legislation that regulates all health professions in the Yukon.

The Health Professions Act protects the public by regulating health professionals and ensuring they are competent, safe and ethical in the care and services they provide to Yukoners. In addition to setting standards, the Act also provides for quality assurance through inspections and a complaints and discipline system should any concerns arise.

This engagement process took place from January 6, 2025, to February 7, 2025, and included in-person and virtual sessions, as well as surveys with health professionals and the public.

Yukoners who participated in this engagement expressed:

a need for a stable and unbiased regulatory system which includes health professionals, First Nations governments and the public;
a clear, transparent, accessible and culturally and psychologically safe complaints process with realistic timelines and defined follow-up procedures;
a separate sexual misconduct complaint process that is trauma-informed and reduces barriers for victims to come forward;
support for health professionals’ wellbeing by allowing them to get help without impacting their licence; and
workspaces for regulated health professionals that meet their profession specific requirements.

This feedback will help shape the policy and regulatory options to address the concerns raised. Currently, there are 15 health professions regulated under eight different Acts. This project is considering how to create one umbrella legislation that regulates health professions in the Yukon in a fair, consistent, effective and efficient manner. The government will continue the policy work on the Act and has not yet committed to any one governance model.

This is a multi-phase project and the Government of Yukon will continue seeking input from First Nations, health professionals and the public as the work progresses.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback. Hearing directly from both the public and health professionals is essential as we begin this important work. Updating the Health Professions Act is a significant responsibility and at the centre of this effort is protecting the safety and wellbeing of Yukoners.

Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

Quick facts

The public engagement ran from January 6, 2025, to February 7, 2025.
Ten two-hour sessions with health professionals; one two-hour virtual session with the public; one two-hour in-person session with the public; a public engagement survey; and a health professionals survey.
The public survey received 126 responses either online or on paper; 107 of these responses were completed by the public and non-regulated health professionals. Of the 1,633 invitations sent to regulated health professionals, 287 surveys were completed, representing a 17.6 per cent response rate. A total of 104 people attended the engagement sessions. These in-person sessions were predominantly attended by health professionals, including the sessions designated for the public.
Out of 15 regulated professions, 12 are regulated by the government, two are self-regulated and one is co-regulated.
Currently, there are 15 health professions regulated under eight different Acts.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Taylor Harvey
Communications, Community Services
867-332-1237
taylor.harvey@yukon.ca

IHT5