Yukon to regulate social workers so territory won't be 'outlier,' minister says

Yukon's community services minister says his government is working to develop regulations for clinical social workers in the territory, saying he doesn't want the territory to continue to be an "outlier" in Canada when it comes to oversight of the profession.

Minister Richard Mostyn was responding to a CBC News report on Wednesday about a clinical social worker in Watson Lake who has had her professional registration stripped, and yet is still offering services.

According to the British Columbia College of Social Workers, the views of Debbra Greig — an avowed follower of cult leader Romana Didulo, the self-professed "Queen of Canada" who espouses QAnon conspiracy theories — could be harmful to Greig's clients.

The B.C. college is now investigating Greig's work after a complaint her behaviour was "extremely concerning." Meanwhile, the college has taken what it calls "extraordinary action to protect the public" by suspending Greig's registration and ordering her not to provide services to existing or prospective clients. 

However, the reach of the B.C. college doesn't extend past the Yukon border, and Yukon currently does not regulate clinical social workers like Greig.

Mostyn said hearing the CBC News report on Wednesday about Greig's professional suspension in B.C. was "compelling and troubling." 

"We want to make sure that we make changes to ensure that we're not a place where people who aren't regulated come and practice at their own whims. That's not acceptable," Mostyn said.

The minister also said that his government is already working to regulate health professionals, including mental-health professionals, in part by updating the territory's Health Professions Act. However, social workers aren't currently considered health professionals in the Yukon even though registered social clinical workers can do mental health diagnoses.

"Really, the timing couldn't be better," he said.

"We are certainly now aware of the importance of making sure that this profession has some regulations around it. We don't want to be an outlier in Canada, and so we want to get rules in place that people abide by," he said.

Minister writes to feds

He also said the government is still "trying to ascertain what work this individual [Greig] does in the territory," but that she doesn't appear to do any work for the territorial government.

"We have learned that she may be doing work for the federal government. I have written the federal government to alert them to this fact," Mostyn said.

Being registered as a social worker is often a requirement for contracts with various governments and Indigenous Services Canada. 

Writing to Federal Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu on Wednesday, Mostyn said Greig "may be involved in the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, a critical initiative designed to serve some of the most vulnerable members of our society."

That program was established as part of the 2006 Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and provides counselling and other support services to former residential school students.

Mostyn said Grieg's "unprofessional behaviour" may compromise the integrity of that program and he urged Hajdu's office to review Greig's involvement in federal programs. 

"The continued involvement of an individual under scrutiny and investigation raises concerns about the potential harm to clients and the erosion of trust in federally funded support systems, our justice system, and the supports and services intended to help victims of the residential school system," Mostyn wrote.

'Nothing was done' 

Linda McDonald, who works with the non-profit Liard Aboriginal Women's Society in Watson Lake, told CBC News on Thursday that she's happy to see Mostyn responding to an issue that she's been talking about for years. 

She said she went to Health Canada with her own concerns about Greig "a few years ago," and was advised to submit a complaint to the British Columbia College of Social Workers. She did so, and then waited for a response that never seemed to come.

"I kept asking, 'Are you dealing with this? Are you dealing with this?' And nothing was done. And they just said, 'yeah, they're still investigating.' And other people complained as well," McDonald said.

"And so we're grateful that a lawyer finally brought the issue forward and it was dealt with."

McDonald said people in her community are "very angry" about what's happened. She says it's another example of how the most vulnerable people are often the ones who suffer. 

"What could be more vulnerable than sharing your issues with a counsellor? Besides your doctor, there's no one who knows you as well," she said.

"Having no counsellor is far better than having someone who might potentially harm a client or potentially be dangerous."

Meantime, in the Yukon legislature on Wednesday, NDP MLA  Annie Blake introduced a motion urging the territorial government to "introduce regulations and oversight for social workers, in line with those in other jurisdictions in Canada."

Mostyn also told CBC News that Yukoners should "be diligent" about who they're seeking help from, and talk to health-care professionals "about their education and all the training that they've had."

"Regulating a profession takes time. So it's not going to happen tomorrow, but we're working on it. It is something that we're aware of and we are going to take action," he said.