Companies chosen for Yukon historic site tours

Private businesses will soon hold tours of two national historic sites in Yukon, afterfederal budget cuts last year to Parks Canada eliminated its guided tours.

Binette Cultural Resources Management, MacBride Museum, Nature Tours of Yukon and Yukon Culture Cruiser will offer tours of the SS Klondike steamship in Whitehorse.

In Dawson City, Goldbottom Mine Tours, Husky Bus and Nature Tours of Yukon will provide tours of Dredge No. 4, a machine that mined gold from river bottoms.

Yukon MP Ryan Leef says it's good for the territory.

"Now we are just looking forward to seeing how it rolls out in the summer," he said.

"I think the groups that were selected are excellent partners in this. I know many of them and I think what we are going to see is a unique delivery of the programs and services that Yukoners said to have open for our visitors and for residents."

The tours will start in June. They'll be available by reservation, and tour operators will determine how much to charge at the time.