Appropriately standing in front of SS Klondike National Historic Site this morning, Yukon MP Ryan Leef announced that upgrades to several Yukon historic sites and national parks will be part of the largest federal infrastructure plan Parks Canada has seen in 104 years.

The federal government will put $13.7 million into revitalizing aging buildings within the territory, including the Chilkoot Trail, Kluane National Park and Reserve and several sites in Dawson City.

Parks Canada said in a statement the projects in the Yukon are a part of an “unprecedented investment by the Harper Government.”

In November 2014, the federal government announced it would put forward $2.8 billion over six years, starting in 2014-15, for infrastructure improvements located within National Historic Aites, national parks and national marine conservation areas.

“We’ve known for some time that facilities need upgrading,” Leef told reporters.

“These investments in Yukon’s treasured protected spaces are a way of preserving our heritage while promoting the economy with investments that focus on local job creation.”

Improving building headquarters and addressing fuel contamination in Kluane National Park and Reserve will make up nearly $4.3 million of the grand total, the largest restoration venture of the ones announced today.

The restoration of the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City and stabilizing the bow at the Dredge No. 4 near Dawson will cost $6.3 million.

The SS Klondike, the historic paddlewheeler in the capital, will receive $345,000 for two separate deck replacements and an additional $280,000 for a new irrigation system.

A new sprinkler system will cost $250,000 for the SS Keno in Dawson.

Leef was asked whether similar announcements will be made in the future.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to doing more for historic park sites in the territory, adding that the “ticking clock” was the main push to roll out this first announcement.

Leef said there are several tenders posted already for some of the projects. There will be more coming – something the MP believes will translate to more jobs for Yukoners, better services and more visitors to the territory.

The federal government has faced questions about its commitment to the national parks system in the past.

In 2012, Parks Canada’s federal budget of $631 million was cut by $29.2 million over three years.

Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq told the House of Commons last February that the “overall budget (for Parks Canada) has increased by 26 per cent.”

The territory sees roughly 75,000 visitors to national parks and historic sites every year.

Project lineup at a glance:

Here is the list of projects Parks Canada announced this morning:

Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site:

St. Andrew’s Church building repairs in Bennett – $450,000;

Lindeman Camp Site’s upgrades to headquarters– $300,000.

Dawson City – Klondike National Historic Site:

Bear Creek Machine Shop foundation repairs – $125,000;

Joe Boyle House rehabilitation– $100,000;

Palace Grand Theatre rehabilitation – $3.8 million;

Dredge No. 4 bow stabilization – $2.5 million;

Former territorial courthouse building repairs – $812,000;

SS Keno sprinkler system replacement – $250,000.

Whitehorse:

SS Klondike Atlin Barge deck replacement – $170,000;

SS Klondike wear deck replacement at bow – $175,000;

SS Klondike wharf and irrigation system replacements – $280,000.

Kluane National Park:

Farm fuel contamination remediation – $650,000;

Headquarters building update – $3.6 million.

Highway rights-of-way sign replacements at various Yukon sites: $450,000.