Yukon government planning improvements for Dawson City airport

Yukon premier Darrell Pasloskiis promising to start planning for major upgrades to the Dawson City airport.

"We're now going to be putting money forward to do functional planning," Pasloski told CBC's A New Day.

"That means planning to pave the airport, but also looking at the entire facility because there is probably a need in the long term of moving the terminal, and doing a lot of other work."

It's not the first time a Yukon politician has promised upgrades to Dawson City's airport. During the federal election campaign in late 2015, Conservative candidate Ryan Leefpromised up to $30 million in improvements to the facility if elected. Leef was defeated by Liberal candidate Larry Bagnell.

• Ryan Leef promises airport upgrades in Dawson City, Yukon

Pasloski made the announcement duringYukon Night at the Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver.

He says"that raised a lot of excitement.

"It really recognizes the fact that the airport is not only very important for the tourism industry, but it's also a very important staging area for mineral exploration in central and northern Yukon as well."