2026 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Yukon Legislative Assembly—Child and Family Services in Yukon
Whitehorse, March 4, 2026—A report from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada presented today in the Yukon Legislative Assembly concludes that the territory’s Department of Health and Social Services failed to provide timely, effective, and inclusive services to protect the safety and well-being of vulnerable children and families.
The audit found serious gaps across a range of child protection services, from the department’s responses to reports of suspected harm, to completing investigations and following up on the safety and well‑being of children in care. In 37% of reports of children at risk of harm, the department failed to assess the need for protective intervention within the mandated 24-hour window. Of the cases that required further investigation, 41% were not completed within the required 30 days, potentially leaving children at risk.
There were also gaps in screening homes before the department placed children with extended family members or in foster care. For example, criminal record checks were not completed for all adults in the extended family homes in 22% of the cases examined. The audit also showed significant shortfalls in required face-to-face contact. In 74% of the cases involving children in the department’s care, it failed to have at least monthly contact, with gaps extending up to 14 months. For young adults receiving support services for independent living, the department did not maintain monthly face-to-face contact in any of the cases.
In the territory’s group homes, which were primarily meant for children at least 12 years old, the audit found that almost a third of the children were under 6 years of age and that many were living with disabilities. This made it significantly harder for staff to provide tailored supervision and consequently increased safety risks for all children.
The Department of Health and Social Services’ responsibilities to support at-risk Yukon children and families rely on effectively managing financial and human resources. The audit found that the department had not completed a comprehensive assessment of the resources it needed to deliver services under the Child and Family Services Act. Only 62% of social worker and supervisor positions were staffed as of March 2025, leaving a significant shortage in key front-line roles.
“Considered together, these findings and the underlying gaps in governance and oversight reveal a child and family services system that is not effectively protecting the young people who depend on it most,” Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes said. “Yukon’s Department of Health and Social Services must act urgently to strengthen its child protection services to support the well-being of children, youth, and their families.”
The 2026 Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Yukon Legislative Assembly—Child and Family Services in Yukon is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
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