This past Sunday, a powerful snowstorm battered Ontario and Quebec, paralyzing major cities and leaving residents frustrated over slow snow removal efforts. With up to 40 centimetres of snowfall in Montreal and 70 centimetres in Ottawa since last Wednesday, the storm has reignited discussions about municipal preparedness and the challenges of keeping sidewalks and roadways clear in extreme weather conditions.
A City Buried in Snow
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante described the storm as one of the most intense in decades, noting that snowfall accumulation at such a rapid pace had not been seen since the 1950s. City officials admitted that their resources were stretched thin, and even with a massive fleet of snowplows, only about half of the city’s sidewalks were cleared promptly.
“There’s nowhere left to put the snow,” said city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin, urging residents to help clear essential areas like fire hydrants and pedestrian walkways. The massive snowbanks along sidewalks have made daily commutes difficult, especially for the elderly and people with mobility challenges.
Residents Speak Out
For many locals, the biggest frustration has been the lack of sidewalk maintenance. “It’s impossible to walk anywhere safely. The roads are barely manageable, and the sidewalks are worse,” said one resident. Many took to social media to vent their frustrations, posting images of buried streets and icy, unshoveled pathways.
In Toronto, where 25 centimeters of snow compounded the previous week’s accumulation, city officials warned that it could take up to three weeks to fully clear the massive windrows blocking sidewalks and intersections. “Toronto is a big city, and this work takes a lot of time,” said Barbara Gray, the city’s general manager of transportation services.
Struggles in the Aftermath
Ottawa faced similar issues, with public works manager Jake Gravelle acknowledging that many sidewalks remained snow-covered. “We’re doing everything we can, but it’s a challenge to keep up when the snowfall is this intense.”
Public frustration isn’t just about inconvenience—many believe the slow response raises safety concerns. “People are slipping and getting injured. It’s a disaster waiting to happen,” one local commuter told reporters. Many businesses have also suffered, with deliveries delayed and customers unable to reach storefronts.
What’s Next?
As cleanup efforts continue, city officials in Ontario and Quebec are under pressure to improve snow removal strategies, particularly for sidewalks and pedestrian walkways. With climate experts warning that extreme weather events will become more frequent, residents are demanding long-term solutions rather than temporary fixes.
For now, the storm has left its mark, and while life is slowly returning to normal, the debate over winter preparedness in Canada’s biggest provinces is far from over.
