'Almost impossible to use': city councillor calls for better sidewalk snow clearing
A city councillor wants snow plows to do a better job of clearing Winnipeg's sidewalks next winter.
St. Boniface councillor Matt Allard said the city's current policy to plow sidewalks to a "compacted snow surface" isn't good enough.
He said it causes issues in the spring during the thaw/melt cycle.
"There comes a time every year where they're just almost impossible to use in our weather," said Allard.
Allard has a motion before the city's public works committee calling for a "plow to pavement" pilot project during the next winter season.
He wants city officials to select one sidewalk per council ward for the trial.
"We can at least try plowing at least one sidewalk, per street, per ward," said Allard.
At the end of the trial, council would look at the results and decide on wider implementation across the city, if possible.
It's an idea that appeals to Debby McLeod, who has trouble navigating sidewalks in the winter.
"They're pretty much impassable. Wheelchair tires don't have much in the way of tread."
McLeod hopes this pilot project will get the green light from city council.
"I think that would be incredible. That's taking down a barrier," she said.
Allard said he has brought up the idea before, but was told by city administrators that many of Winnipeg's sidewalks are too broken up for that level of clearing.
But Allard said any city streets that have recently been rebuilt will also have new sidewalks.
"The sidewalk's good to go," he said.
The motion will be discussed at the next meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works on Feb. 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.