Decked out in T-shirts identifying themselves as a “Proud Yukon Feminist” or a “Proud NGO Supporter”, protesters gathered outside the Yukon legislature early Thursday afternoon, just before the first day of the spring sitting.

Some carried signs showing their support for the laid-off staff at Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services and other organizations facing funding issues, like the Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society.

They called on Yukoners to call their MLAs for action on the issues.

“We need a dialogue,” Max Fraser of the Friends of Many Rivers organization told the crowd.

He spoke after acknowledging the presence of Community Services Minister John Streicker and Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost in having come out earlier to speak to the protestors.

The two ministers also told him they would meet with the Friends of Many Rivers in the near future to discuss the situation, he said.

Staff for the counseling service were laid off just after getting back to work following a three month strike that began in early November 2018.

Because Many Rivers is in non-compliance with the territory’s Societies Act, it cannot receive Yukon government funding.

As Fraser pointed out though, if it was the same situation at a hospital, the government would be taking quick action to deal with it.

He went on to argue that the more Yukoners who call their MLAs and push for action, the more likely they are to come to a quick resolution.

He then handed out sheets bearing the names and numbers for each MLA in the territory.

Also on hand for the event was Heidi Marion of the Yukon Status of Women Council, who encouraged everyone who wants to support local NGOs to call their MLAs.

“Let’s get a dialogue going,” she said.

The Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society operates Kaushee’s Place and Betty’s Haven, providing housing to women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Executive director Barbara McInerny reiterated the position the group is in, given that funding levels haven’t risen since 2011.

“We will not make the fiscal year of ’19-’20,” she told the crowd.

While the Yukon government has responded to the organization recently, McInerny added, they now want a full review of the program, why clients stay there, whether they are really experiencing domestic violence and so on.

Like Marion and Fraser, she called on those attending to contact their MLAs.

“We need your support,” she said.

Following the rally, those on hand put down their signs and headed into the legislature to sit in the gallery and make their presence known during question period.

After some applauded a question on NGO funding from NDP Leader Liz Hanson, Speaker Nils Clarke cautioned them to maintain order.