‘Not acceptable:’ Olivia Chow calls for full review of Toronto’s winter operations

Mayor Olivia Chow said she wants city staff to thoroughly review the contracts with private companies hired to do snow removal for Toronto amid criticism of the removal process after a series of storms that dropped more than 50 centimetres of snow last week.

Many sidewalks remain challenging for city residents, especially those with accessibility issues. CityNews chopper spotted some people using mobility devices forced onto the road.

“The sidewalks are not plowed. It has been more than a week … it is not acceptable,” said Chow.

Officials initially estimated the snow clean-up would take several weeks as multiple rounds of plowing were needed.

“Last week, I had the opportunity to tour snow removal operations. It is painstaking work, and the people who do it deserve to have the proper equipment and logistical plans to succeed,” said Mayor Chow. “I am confident that through my recommendations in this letter, we will improve Toronto’s winter maintenance program both for the residents who rely on it and the people who deliver it.”

Chow is calling for a review of the contracts for snow removal signed in 2021 under the previous mayor, John Tory.

“In addition to my recommendations, I have also asked City Manager Paul Johnson to immediately review options to deploy additional City staff from other departments to clear and remove snow, as well as support flood prevention efforts, while also ensuring other essential City services continue their operations,” she said.

In addition to seeking out a review of Toronto’s entire winter operations, Mayor Chow is asking the Auditor General to investigate the city’s handling of this month’s major storm, determine whether previous AG recommendations related to winter maintenance operations were enacted by city management, assess Toronto’s snow removal system and evaluate the city’s sidewalk plow fleet “to determine whether they are the optimal equipment based on local winter conditions.”

The contracts, meanwhile, were signed during the COVID-19 pandemic, something Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher said was part of the problem.

“City Hall accountability is back. It was lacking during that time when we were at home, looking at a screen,” said Fletcher.

Toronto-St. Paul’s Councillor Josh Matlow voted against the contracts back in 2021.

“We have mountains of ice and snow that have not been cleared,” said Matlow.

But he says now it’s up to the council to take responsibility.

“It’s on this council and mayor to make things better.”