So far the toll of the shutdown has been steep: Analysts estimate that every week the shutdown dragged on cost the economy anywhere from US$10 billion to US$15 billion. Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images/Postmedia files

The longest government shutdown in United States history has ended, but it could take days — and in some cases a week or more — before normal operations resume.

Payroll systems must be updated to pay out weeks of back wages. Backlogs of grant disbursements, loan applications and customer calls that went unanswered for 43 days will now need to be cleared. Delayed environmental permits, workplace inspections and contracting activities have stacked up across federal agencies.

The work of re-opening the government couldn’t officially launch until the funding bill has p

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