GWNT officials say they hope to resume re-entry of critical businesses as soon as the highways are safe to travel on.

Officials gave an update on the citySA国际影视传媒檚 re-population plan during a press conference Thursday evening.

Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty posted on her social media account earlier in the day that the city was reaching out to critical businesses to arrange a return to the city and asked people not to call the city asking to be on the critical business list.

SA国际影视传媒淐ity staff are calling businesses who are deemed critical to be open for the public on the first few days home. We have the categories of businesses and we have the list of Yellowknife businesses who fit in those categories, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e calling them,SA国际影视传媒� she wrote in the post.

Alty added the critical businesses being looked at include grocery stores and daycare centres. The GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒楻e-entry after an evacuationSA国际影视传媒� website lists hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, hotels, gas stations, grocery stores and essential businesses such as early childcare providers as critical parts of Phase 3.

SA国际影视传媒淵esterday was a tough day,SA国际影视传媒� she said during the press conference. SA国际影视传媒淭he good news is that health care related staff are able to come home by air. The hospital needs the most time to get back to basic service level.SA国际影视传媒�

Alty cautioned the hospital wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be fully staffed when Phase 5 comes into effect.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have a list of names, whether theySA国际影视传媒檒l be driving back or whether weSA国际影视传媒檒l need to book a flight,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he light at the end of the tunnel is still there, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 just been pushed forward a bit.SA国际影视传媒�

She noted the city also paused its Phase 3 re-entry because of concerns of food availability for the people currently back in the city.

Yellowknife city manager Sheila Bassi-Kellett said all three major grocery stores have been contacted.

Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority CEO Kimberly Riles said they have asked their people to return by air if possible.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really critical to re-establish health care services,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She said NTHSSA was preparing to pay staff who fly back and leave a vehicle behind to go back and claim their vehicle at a later date.

John McDonald, deputy minister for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, said the department is reaching out to licensed child care providers in the city and asking them if theySA国际影视传媒檙e willing to open.

SA国际影视传媒淓verybody who is interested and able and wants to come back are being asked and we will compile that list and provide that to the city in the moment,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Emergency Management Organization information officer Jay Boast said the plan to return the people to the community is continuing.

He said everyone has to take care of their level of responsibility.

SA国际影视传媒淲ith that in mind, we want to make sure the highways are safe,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e will be asking people to do significant planning for their (return) trip. We will be putting out advice and guidance.SA国际影视传媒�

Department of Infrastructure acting assistant deputy minister Jeffrey Edison said the GNWT was looking at ensuring gas stations along the roads will be sufficiently stocked with fuel for vehicles.

Wildfire information officer Mike Westwick said there was a high probability winds would push wildfires over Highway 1, which could further delay re-entry. He said said from the fire and smoke danger, the lack of visibility makes driving on the highway even more dangerous.

SA国际影视传媒淚 saw a structural fire truck with all their lights on emerge from the smoke and fog (Thursday) morning just a couple feet away from me without ever having seen it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪urely, even if you disagree with decisions being made, surely you do care about the people in your vehicle, and your own safety. So keep that in mind. Please.SA国际影视传媒�

During an Aug. 25 press conference, Yellowknife city manager Sheila Bassi-Kellett said there were approximately 100 volunteers who provided chainsaw support, logistics, refuelling and other supports.

She said the city had deemed those volunteers are essential workers. Another 20 or so did not have the proper skill sets to be considered essential and were asked to contemplate leaving the city.

An estimated 1,600 people remain in the city of Yellowknife. Emergency Management Organization information officer Jennifer Young has said that approximately 1,000 of those are essential workers and the rest are people who chose not to evacuate.