Imagine waking up to a city buried under nearly 60 centimeters of snow, with residential streets and sidewalks virtually impassable. That’s exactly what Toronto residents faced after last month’s record-breaking storm. But here’s where it gets controversial: Mayor Olivia Chow had to call in the province for help, admitting the city’s snow-clearing strategy wasn’t as effective as it could have been. At a recent news conference, Chow revealed, ‘I phoned up the province, the Ministry of Transportation, and said, “Hey, you signed a contract to shovel and remove snow in 2021… the city wasn’t as smart.”’ This move has sparked debates about municipal preparedness and the cost of ad-hoc solutions, with the city potentially spending up to $950,000 for provincial assistance.
City crews began plowing main streets and highways as soon as the snow started falling on January 25, but the sheer volume of snowfall overwhelmed their efforts. While snow removal—including hauling it to dump sites and melting it—kicked off last week, many arterial streets and sidewalks remain covered. ‘It’s going to take days,’ officials warned, as crews work around the clock to clear the mess. Provincial teams are now focusing on residual snow banks along the Gardiner and DVP, freeing up city workers to tackle residential areas with reduced visibility.
And this is the part most people miss: the city’s 311 service was flooded with calls, primarily for sidewalk clearing, highlighting a glaring gap in performance. Since then, Toronto has removed 150,000 tonnes of snow, and call volumes are declining. Inspectors are flagging problem areas, and residents are urged to report issues via 311. The Major Snowstorm Condition and Significant Weather Event declared on January 25 remains in effect, with parking bans on snow routes still active.
Here’s a thought-provoking question: Should cities like Toronto invest more in proactive snow-clearing strategies, or is relying on provincial assistance during emergencies a more cost-effective approach? Let’s discuss in the comments. For now, residents can track the city’s snow plows in real-time here, as Toronto continues to dig itself out of this winter’s unprecedented wallop.
