Gathered at the future spot for the permanent workers' memorial late Friday morning, union members and supporters remembered those who have died on the job.

They also called on the community to fight against the federal government's proposed Bill C-4.

The budget implementation bill, they argue, guts numerous health and safety regulations by redefining the meaning of danger to include only "imminent risk.”

That makes it more difficult for employees to refuse unsafe work and will reduce the number of workplace inspectors.

The rally saw supporters march from the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre to the area where the memorial will stand, chanting and holding signs to state their opposition to the bill.

Chris Aylward, the Public Service Alliance of Canada's executive vice-president, led much of the rally at the memorial site.

"When we talk about health and safety in the workplace ... what the Conservative government in Ottawa is doing is shameful,”Aylward said.

He recalled numerous deaths in recent years, including the July 6, 2013 runaway train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Que. which killed almost 50 people.

Throughout his speech, Aylward noted for his "brothers and sisters” again and again that every day in Canada, three people are killed on the job.

"This government is not doing anything to decrease those numbers, and in fact, what they're doing will increase those numbers,” he said.

As he noted the Yukon's Conservative MP, Ryan Leef, supported the bill, the crowd erupted into cries of "Shame!”

Aylward went on to tell union members to remember their MP's stance – which, he argued, put workers' lives at risk – when they vote in next year's federal election.

He went on to recall a worker who was killed on the job a few years ago just a couple of blocks from Parliament when a boiler exploded.

The federal government did nothing, he said. Now, it's putting more lives at risk in favour of pleasing its "corporate friends.”

"Sisters and brothers: we have fought for better health and safety laws in this country, and we will continue to fight for better health and safety laws until we get that number of three every day down to zero, because that's what we deserve and that's what Canadians deserve,” he said.

Aylward's presentation was greeted with cheers and applause from the large crowd.

Meanwhile, Vikki Quocksister, the president of the Yukon Federation of Labour, pointed to the flags on display representing workplace deaths in each of the three territories.

Three people in the Yukon lost their lives at work last year, she reminded the rally goers.

"The Yukon only has 36,000 people living here,” she said. "How many more should we lose to work?

"Work is what you do to support your family. Work is what you do to have a life away from work. Work is how you make life better. Work should not kill you,” Quocksister said.

She encouraged union members and others to get involved in the fight against Bill C-4, noting it impacts all workers across the country.

Amid cheers and applause, she too stated her commitment to fighting the new legislation.

Quocksister recalled her own experience learning that a former classmate had died on the job. As she noted those who perish on the job are more than just workers.

She noted it's her hope that when the memorial is erected, visitors will be able to see the names of those who died on the job and how they died, and know the deaths were preventable.

"I want to make all worksite deaths preventable,” Quocksister said.

"Let's stop the killing.”

The government has to listen, she said.

"We are the ones who have the voice, the ones who will make a change ... and it's time we fired our government,” she said.

A moment of silence was then held to remember those who died on the job.