Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports

Standing Committee on Public Accounts

The 2015 spring sitting of the First Session of the 33rd Legislative Assembly, which convened on April 2, adjourned on May 28 after 31 sitting days. On May 19, Elizabeth Hanson (Whitehorse Centre), Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), rose in the House to present the Committee's first report. The document's subject matter was a report of the Auditor General of Canada--Yukon Health Services and Programs --2011--that had been released on February 15, 2011 (during the preceding Legislature). The Committee's report reviewed steps that had been taken during the current Legislature with regard to the Auditor General's 2011 report, including the public hearing the Committee held on October 17, 2012, and a July 2013 progress report submitted by the Department of Health and Social Services to the Committee, in response to a request from the Committee. The PAC's first report "reiteratejd] that the Committee may follow up on the implementation of the recommendations the Auditor General's report on Health Services. This follow-up may include holding a further public hearing."

On June 9, PAC held a public hearing in the Legislative Chamber on a report the Auditor General of Canada had released on March 5, 2015, entitled Report of the Auditor General to the Yukon Legislative Assembly --2015: Corrections in Yukon--Department of Justice. At the hearing, the Committee questioned witnesses from the Department of Justice with regard to the report's findings and recommendations, which focused on offender management and facility management.

Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner

Bill No. 75, Public Interest Disclosure of Wrongdoing Act, which passed the House and was assented to in December, 2014, provides for whistle-blower protection relating to designated Yukon public entities. The Act came into force on June 15, 2015, thereby establishing the Office of the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. As noted on the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner's website (www.vukonpidc.ca) the Commissioner has the authority to "investigate wrongdoing disclosures and reprisals [and] provide confidential advice to employees who are considering making a wrongdoing disclosure."

The Public Interest Disclosure of Wrongdoing Act stipulates that Yukon's Ombudsman shall also serve as the...