Alex Furlong, the president of the Yukon Federation of Labour, has been left wondering just how much workplace safety is valued by the territory's four election candidates, with an all-candidates' forum slated for the same time as tomorrow's National Day Of Mourning ceremony.

"The YFL cannot believe that an all-candidates forum will be held on this day and at the very time the Yukon Day of Mourning ceremony will actual(ly) start,” Furlong said in a statement released late this morning.

"This is a National Day of Mourning, an act passed by Parliament, of which all of these candidates want to represent Yukon in.

"It should be incumbent on all political parties to know the significance of this day both here in Yukon, Canada and around the world.

"It makes me wonder how much these so-called politicians value Yukon workers and the sacrifices they have made.”

Workers who have lost their lives or been injured on the job are remembered during the Day of Mourning, which focusses on workplace safety.

Tomorrow's local ceremony is set to begin at noon in the foyer of the Yukon governments main administration building.

Along with the all-candidates forum also starting at noon, Furlong is taking issue with a luncheon being hosted at the same time by the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and Yukon Chamber of Mines. The event will see representatives from Selwyn Chihong Resources Mining Ltd. discussing their zinc-lead deposit in eastern Yukon.

"It goes without saying that we feel these actions are highly inappropriate and disrespectful,” Furlong said.

Earlier in the statement, he said: "It defies logic that given recent events in the mining industry as it relates to worker safety, they would see it prudent to host a luncheon on this very day and moment our ceremony begins.

"It speaks volumes of what this day means to both organizations (CHON-FM and the chambers) and demeans in every way the value they place on workers in Yukon.”

In the past 18 months, two workers at the Wolverine Mine have died from workplace injuries.

Whitehorse Chamber president Rick Karp said this morning he takes exception to Furlong's comments, pointing out that the chamber will be represented at the ceremony even as the luncheon is happening.

"It is an important day,” he said of the Day of Mourning.

At the same time, though, business is continuing in the territory.

"Selwyn happened to have representatives in town for the day and were looking for the best way to speak to the business community so the luncheon was organized, Karp explained.

While Karp noted there's always room for improvement and the recent tragic events show there are problems which have to be fixed, he also pointed out that workplace safety is of great importance to Yukon employers. That's evident in the decreasing workers' compensation assessment rates that come with improvements in the injury numbers and getting injured workers back to work.

Yukon Chamber of Commerce president Sandy Babcock also said this afternoon there was no intention on the chamber's part to conflict with the Day of Mourning ceremony.

When the chamber and Selwyn began planning for the luncheon last September, officials weren't aware of the timing conflict, she said.

While she recognizes the Day of Mourning is an annual event, she pointed out with events that are months away sometimes "things get missed,” and this was the case.

A moment of silence will be held at the beginning of the luncheon to mark the Day of Mourning, which Babcock said may help give the day more prominence.

Like the Whitehorse chamber, the Yukon chamber will have a representative at the ceremony.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines could not be reached for comment before press time this afternoon.

Meanwhile, CHON-FM general manager Sofie Green said she wanted to review Furlong's statement before commenting on it.