Yellowknife's homeless encampment now has until just before midnight on Thursday to leave the parking lot that the tent-dwellers are currently occupying, according to the GNWT.

The territorial government and the city sent officials to the encampment on Sept. 10 to remove large items that were identified to staff on Sept. 9, according to Toyeke Adedipe, a senior communications officer with the Department of Finance. Encampment residents told those government employees that the items removed did not belong to anyone, Adedipe stated.

"GNWT staff and NGO [non-governmental organization] staff have visited the encampment daily since it was established to communicate that encampment residents need to relocate by mid-September so renovations can begin on the Aspen Apartments building," Adedipe wrote in an email. "Encampment residents have been informed on multiple occasions that removal of their belongings from the site needed to begin by Sept. 9. and be finished by Sept. 11."

Portable toilets were cleared away on Sept. 11. The fencing at the site was also expected to be taken down. The garbage bin at the encampment will be removed on Sept. 12, Adedipe added.

Previously, Mayor Rebecca Alty said the GNWT was "looking at a building," as one of the options when relocating people in this encampment. When asked if there was ever any talk about putting these individuals in a building, Adedipe did not confirm nor deny anything.

"GNWT and NGO staff have been working with encampment residents and have identified that all encampment residents have individual options, including emergency shelters, that are available to them," she replied. "The current approach allows us to provide the necessary support while considering the unique needs of each individual."

Adedipe also noted that the SA国际影视传媒渇riends of the encampment,SA国际影视传媒� which is a group of Yellowknife residents associated with the homeless group, also received the GNWT's information in writing and were asked to pass it on to encampment residents.

"The GNWT is encouraging encampment residents to engage with the services offered, and to move their belongings offsite by 11:59 pm on Sept. 11 so that renovations can begin on time at Aspen Apartments and open up much-needed public housing units," Adedipe wrote.

If any encampment members refuse to leave, Adedipe said the GWNT is figuring out what it will do in response.

"We are still hoping for a cooperative resolution to clearing the site and have had staff on site for the past two days to offer rides to shelters and private housing and storage for their belongings if needed," she wrote.