City report recommends adding $3 million in equipment to keep up with sidewalk snow clearing
The City of Winnipeg has a plan to improve snow clearing on sidewalks, but it will cost more money.
A new report at city hall found none of the policy timelines for snow removal on sidewalks and paths were met this winter because of the record snowfall and shortage of equipment.
"I could see that there was a clear disconnect between our snow clearing policy with the city and what was actually being delivered," said Coun. Matt Allard.
As a result of the report, it recommends adding 15 new sidewalk snow clearing machines at a cost of $3,017,400.
"Services cost money. I'm okay with that," one Winnipegger said.
I think it's a fantastic idea. I don't think the city was doing a good job this winter," another person said.
However, not everyone likes the proposed idea.
Jasmine Wiens said she thinks the money should be spent elsewhere.
"There's more garbage; the garbage cans aren't emptied regularly. That bothers me more," she said.
Right now, most sidewalks are cleared by city staff. To help meet proper timelines, the report recommends 506 kilometres of sidewalk clearing be transferred to contractors.
Snow removal is currently done on 3,000 kilometres of sidewalks, bike paths and park pathways.
"I think this should be an increased level of service for Winnipeggers, if we go in this direction," said Allard.
The city is also looking at ways to beef up snow removal on streets and sidewalks done by private companies with fines and by reducing the size of some zones.
It is looking at applying penalties to contractors if work in a snow zone is not complete within 12 hours. Currently, fines kick in at 36 hours.
Another change will see the size of snow zones balanced out, reducing the number of kilometres in some to make it easier to get the operation done within the 12-hour period.
Snow route parking bans could also change. They currently run from December to February but could be changed to be in place from November to April to adapt to weather conditions.
The city’s infrastructure committee is set to debate the changes next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.