Mississauga passes emergency motion to get all streets cleared of snow today
Published January 19, 2022 at 1:17 pm
Mississauga City council passed an emergency motion this morning to ensure all secondary streets across the city, and not just the major routes, get cleared of snow today.
Monday’s historic winter storm that slammed into most of southern Ontario dumped some 45cm of snow on much of Mississauga, leaving City of Mississauga snow-clearing crews stretched to the max.
Even in city neighbourhoods where snow plows were able to make an initial clearing run, a second run left huge windrows of hard, chunky snow and ice blocking driveways and residential courts.
The situation left many city residents stranded in their homes, unable to get to work, medical appointments, school or out to care for loved ones. And in some cases, home healthcare services had to be cancelled.
Making matters worse was a second round of snow on Tuesday night, albeit a much less significant amount, that pulled the snow plows off of secondary streets and back to a “reset” situation in which they once again prioritized clearing the major routes.
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City councillors have been overwhelmed with calls and emails from angry, frustrated and stranded residents.
Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca, who tabled the emergency motion, said many residents “are just beside themselves and can’t get out of their homes” or their streets.
Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito said she’s heard from many residents who are complaining about the huge windrows from a second round of snow clearing.
She added that the winter blast was a significant and very unusual weather event for Mississauga, and urged people to be patient.
“I’m absolutely baffled that many people don’t understand that,” said Saito, noting many residents have been verbally abusive in their complaints to the City.
This mountain of snow is what we would expect over an Entire winter. It is all from yesterdays storm. Puts things in perspective. pic.twitter.com/vkgpjZP4sv
— Councillor Pat Saito “stay safe” (@PatSaitoWard9) January 18, 2022
The snow piled up in the middle of one particular residential court in her ward is more snow than they sometimes receive in an entire winter, the councillor added.
Geoff Wright, the City’s commissioner of transportation and works, described the winter storm as “an extraordinary event” and said crews have been working round the clock since Monday to clear the snow.
He said his staff will take council’s direction and work to have all secondary and major routes cleared by end of today.
Council’s motion overrides the City’s “back to back weather event” policy that resets snow-clearing services to the major routes and will now direct the plows to clear secondary roads as well today.
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