Some northern Saskatchewan residents could be on their way home weeks after being forced out by wildfire.
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, in a post on social media, said healthy evacuees with their own vehicles can start returning to Pelican Narrows after the road from Smeaton to the community reopened late Sunday.
Security checkpoints will be in place and officials said staff may want to see identification, ask brief screening questions and check vehicles.
“We ask everyone to be respectful and co-operative with staff stationed at the checkstops,” reads a post from the First Nation.
But emergency officials said those who are pregnant, have children under five, are older, or have serious health issues should stay away.
There is a boil water advisory for the area, and the First Nation said the Pelican Narrows Health Centre is operating with minimal staff and can respond to emergencies.
“We thank all evacuees and community members for your continued cooperation,” the post said.
“These coordinated efforts are in place to ensure your safe and sustainable return.”
Thousands of people remained out of their homes in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, including between 10,000 and 15,000 in Saskatchewan alone.
Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP have been accusing Premier Scott Moe’s government of mismanaging the response to the wildfires. On Monday, they repeated calls urging the premier to call in the military for help with firefighting, evacuations, transportation and communication.
“When lives and homes are on the line, we shouldn’t be leaving any help on the table,” said northern affairs critic Jordan McPhail.
In an NDP news release, three evacuees, including two from a community near the Saskatchewan-Manitoba boundary, said Moe should have called in the military.
“I’m very disappointed in a government that I voted for and I had faith in,” said Rhonda Werbicki, whose family home of 26 years burned down in Denare Beach.
Linda Lowe’s home of 31 years was also destroyed.
“How many more families have to lose their homes or do fatalities have to occur before we are given the help we need to fight these fires and get some financial aid?” she said.
The NDP says some evacuees have gone days without financial aid and that funds are “tied to limited grocery store locations.”
McPhail said the program is confusing and restrictive.
“There’s no reason why we can’t have an accessible and straightforward aid program like we see in neighbouring Manitoba and Alberta,” he said.
Moe has resisted the NDP’s call for military aid, saying the Canadian Armed Forces aren’t able to provide water bombers.
The premier has said he’s keeping in touch with the federal government and is getting help from other provinces to fight the fires.
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