Toronto doesn’t have ‘act together’ on snow clearing, councillor says
Posted February 27, 2023 4:35 pm.
Last Updated February 27, 2023 8:23 pm.
Despite the City of Toronto’s assurances that it’s “ready” to tackle Monday’s winter storm, some, including one of its own councillors, say it still hasn’t adequately cleaned up from the storm that hit last week.
Councillor for Ward 12 Toronto—St. Paul’s, Josh Matlow, has joined a growing chorus online that’s been critical of the City’s recent snow clearing efforts.
I’ve advocated toward the former mayor, and his allies on council, to support raising snow clearing standards. They wouldn’t make this a priority. On some streets in our city, never mind raising standards, it seems that they haven’t cleared the snow at all. This must change.
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) February 25, 2023
“Clearing snow, especially in a Canadian city, should be a basic winter service,” Matlow tweeted on Monday. “It’s about being a functional, safe and accessible city. Waiting for the snow to eventually melt just isn’t acceptable.”
This is amazing. Toronto’s inability to clear snow, a service I believe should be a basic in a Canadian city, has inspired some pretty impressive artistic expression. Thank you, Ellen. https://t.co/NfXleBQc2o
— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) February 27, 2023
Speaking to CityNews on Sunday night, Matlow called the situation on Toronto’s streets and sidewalks “unacceptable” and pinned much of the blame on previous mayor John Tory, who recently resigned after an affair with a younger, former staffer became public.
“City staff and the mayor said … that this year would be better,” Matlow said. “There are even advertising campaigns on bus shelters with the big words, ‘We are ready, winter is coming and so are we.'”
“Well, the winter came, another storm came, and the city wasn’t there,” Matlow said, calling the substandard work “another consequence of the former mayor and council not investing in our resident’s priorities.”
Matlow said the situation has been especially difficult on segments of the population who may struggle with mobility for a variety of reasons.
“If you are somebody in a wheelchair, if you are a young parent trying to push a stroller, if you’re a senior with challenges just to be able to sort of get around your own neighbourhood to get to services that you need, the city becomes inaccessible for you. And that’s just not good enough.”
Former Toronto councillor, Janet Davis, seemed to agree, posting a photo of a particularly troubling section in the east end.
Third time: here is the sidewalk between Danforth and Vic Park Station late today. @BradMBradford pic.twitter.com/ixjnUtB6do
— Janet Davis (@Janet_Davis) February 26, 2023
Many others replied to Matlow’s tweets with more visual evidence of shoddy snow removal, or in some cases, seemingly no removal at all.
Here are 2 pictures of the same spot on Yonge St less than 48 hours apart. In between taking these two photos, the pile of snow with concrete barriers in it was cleared, only to return again (not clear, but in the right picture there is at least 1 concrete barrier hiding) pic.twitter.com/eZ0C1hwFw9
— The Biking Veterinarian (He/Him) (@thebikingvet) February 26, 2023
Pedestrian crossings and TTC stops are really bad. This is College and University today. pic.twitter.com/Yrsmw611lE
— kay (@cyclekay) February 26, 2023
Toronto: not even trying to appear to want to be accessible. Take your pick; road, snow or mud.
Redpath and Eglinton pic.twitter.com/5WfcLK01Mb— ali (@soerensenali) February 26, 2023
Matlow believes the city’s snow removal contracts should be evaluated.
“Clearly the contracts that the City has are not getting the job done,” he said. “I voted against these contracts because I didn’t believe they met the test.”
#SnowIsComing! 5-8.5 cm of snow is in the forecast for this evening, turning to ice pellets overnight and rain tomorrow morning. This might impact your commute. Pls keep a safe distance from snow clearing equipment & give yourself extra time to get around. https://t.co/NkKZ18DxIS
— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) February 27, 2023
Last November, the City boasted about its winter readiness in a release titled “Winter is coming and the City of Toronto is ready.”
“Snow clearing equipment is at designated yards across the city, salt supplies have been replenished and snow response technology has been developed and installed, including GPS and communication technologies. Crews are prepared to respond to the effects of cold winter weather 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” the City said.
The City noted that it has a winter maintenance budget of $109 million for this season, and a fleet of more than 1,400 pieces of equipment ready to “mobilize when the weather changes.”
Matlow doesn’t believe the City has lived up to its promises.
“The evidence is that the City doesn’t have it’s act together,” he said. “It’s letting people down and I believe we can do better.”
CityNews reached out to the City for comment on the criticisms it is facing about snow clearing, but did not receive a reply by publication time.
