Leef announces $13.7 million for Parks Canada sites

Some historic sites in Yukon will be getting $13.7 million worth of renovations and refurbishment.

Yukon MP Ryan Leef announced the funding today in Whitehorse. He saidthe work will provide needed protection against fires and will also stabilize buildings which have been shifting.

Political opponents, meanwhile, calledLeef'sannouncement a distraction from a legacy of cuts to ParksCanada.

ThirtyParks Canada jobs have been cut in Yukon since 2012.

Several projectsin Dawson City

The funding is forinfrastructure maintained by Parks Canada inparks and historic sites. The projectsannounced todayinclude:

• $3.8 million to stabilize the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City.
• $3.6 million to upgrade parks buildings in KluaneNational Park and Reserve.
• $2.5 million to stabilize the bow of the historic Dredge #4 in Dawson City.
• Stabilization of Dawson City sites including the Bear Creek Machine Shop, Territorial Courthouse and Joe Boyle House.
• ChilkootTrail improvements including a trailside first aid room and a new roof and sprinkler system for the historic St. Andrews Church at Bennett Lake.
• Renovations to the SS Klondike Historic Site in Whitehorse which includes replacing the wooden deck around the ship.

Leef saidthe work will be tendered to Yukon companies.

"There's a great opportunity for Yukon companies for being involved in bidding on these jobs. Ranging from small jobs that small businesses can bid on,up to large projects that are three and four million dollars," he said.

Opponents say funding a distraction fromParks Canada cuts

NDP candidate Melissa Atkinsonreacted by saying"It's clear that Ryan Leefis infull pre-election spending mode."

One question she raised was the timing of the announcement.

Leef said "many of these [projects]have been a long time in the making" but funding was only recently allocated in the federal budget.

Larry Bagnell, the territory's Liberal candidate,also believes the timing is no coincidence.

"[They're]saving up the capitalinvestments they should have beendoing over the last couple ofyears to two months before theelection. I think people will seethrough that," he said.

[They're]saving up the capitalinvestments they should have beendoing over the last couple ofyears to two months beforetheelection. I think people will seethrough that- Larry Bagnell,Liberal candidate

Bagnell took issue with Leef's claim that his government has improved Parks Canada services in Yukon.

"They've cut somany jobs incuratorial, conservation, parkswardens. Thirtyjobs, full-time, well-paying Yukon jobs. Andthey're replacing them withshort-term construction jobs,"Bagnell said.

Atkinson shared similar thoughts.

"We look at well-paying jobsdisappear when cutbacks aremade to Parks Canada and thoseare real people. Those impacts have been felt greatly in our territory," she said.

Leef says the different contract jobs should start appearing soon on government tender sites.