Toronto’s Snow Removal Plan: Wait for Spring

For those who don’t watch the news, Toronto has been grappling with the aftermath of one of its most significant snowstorms in recent years, leaving residents frustrated and raising questions about the city’s priorities and preparedness. Every local Facebook group, coffee shop chat, and dinner table convo has been about snow. I will admit, it’s better than politics, the state of the NBA All-Star game, or even shrinkflation, but I am ready for it to be over.

With over 60 cm of snow falling in just one week, the challenges of clearing streets, sidewalks, and transit routes have opened up a can of systemic worms in how the city—and the country at large—approaches urban mobility and keeping people moving in the winter. After all, we do live in Canada and winter should not be a surprise. So why has it taken so long to clear the snow? Why do we continue to prioritize cars over pedestrians, and the broader implications for urban planning in this country? Clearly, I have been watching a lot of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

The Scope of the Problem

The recent snowstorms have left Toronto buried under an extraordinary amount of snow, with snowbanks reaching up to six to eight feet in some areas. Personally, it doesn’t feel like it’s that crazy and I recall a few years ago doing far more shoveling. City officials have estimated that it will take up to three weeks to fully remove the snow from streets, sidewalks, and other critical areas. Three weeks? Think about that. Might as well just wait until spring and save the money. They keep saying snow removal crews are working around the clock, but also progress has been slow due to logistical challenges and limited capacity.

But for many of us, it doesn’t pass the eye test. Many residents remain extremely dissatisfied. The only progress I have seen I will credit Mother Nature for the warmer weather on Sunday. Sidewalks and transit stops have been inaccessible for days, forcing pedestrians to navigate dangerous conditions or stay home altogether. I have not gone for my usual walks. My wife only leaves the house if she has to or has someone to go with her. Our high school son said they all have to walk on the street while being honked at just to get to school. Disability advocates have given the city a failing grade for its handling of snow removal, citing barriers that exacerbate isolation for people with mobility issues.

Why Has It Taken So Long?

Several factors contribute to Toronto’s slow snow removal:

1. Volume and Weather Conditions: The back-to-back storms dumped record amounts of snow in a short period. Compounding this issue are freezing temperatures that prevent natural melting. In retrospect, they should have started clearing snow after the first dump.
   
2. Limited Resources: While Toronto has deployed more than 450 dump trucks and activated its Emergency Operations Centre, even these measures are insufficient for such an extraordinary event. Snow removal is inherently slow; clearing just one kilometer can take up to 10 hours.
   
3. Contracting Issues: The city’s reliance on private contractors for much of its snow-clearing work has faced criticism. Past audits revealed lapses in contractor performance, with penalties rarely enforced. This lack of accountability undermines public trust.
   
4. Lack of Coordination: Snow-clearing operations often prioritize roads over sidewalks and transit stops, leaving vulnerable road users—pedestrians, people with disabilities, and transit riders—struggling to get around.

The Car-Centric Approach

One glaring issue that continues to irritate me, is Toronto’s car-centric approach to snow clearing. Roads are prioritized over sidewalks and bike lanes, reflecting a broader urban planning philosophy that favours vehicles over pedestrians and public transit users. For example:

Blocked Sidewalks: Plows often push snow onto sidewalks, creating barriers at intersections and transit stops. The worst examples seem to be in front of city-owned buildings and parks. Go figure.

Transit Accessibility: Many bus stops remain buried under snowbanks days after plowing operations begin, forcing riders to wait on streets or climb over hazardous piles.

Parking Over Pedestrian Safety: Despite towing thousands of cars parked on designated snow routes, enforcement remains inconsistent. It took over a week for the city to start towing cars that were blocking Streetcars for example. Meanwhile, pedestrians are left navigating icy footpaths or walking on roads.

This focus on cars not only delays pedestrian mobility but also perpetuates a cycle where driving is seen as the default mode of transportation—even in a city striving for sustainability.

This is even more noticeable downtown where so many people live and don’t drive. Major roads like King, Queen, and College should be pristine. Instead, they let footprints turn the snow into a slushy mess for us all to struggle through.

A Lack of Leadership Across All Levels

Another troubling aspect is the apparent lack of urgency from all levels of government:

Municipal Response: While Mayor Olivia Chow has defended the city’s efforts, many residents feel that progress is too slow and uncoordinated. Her attitude has been poor. The jokes about not bringing in the army were flat. You can’t raise property taxes and then be so indifferent on a topic affecting your whole city.

Provincial Involvement: Snow removal is largely a municipal responsibility, but provincial support could bolster resources during extreme weather events. But as there is a stupid snap election in Ontario right now, as long as the Campaign Busses can get there, that’s all that matters.

Federal Oversight: Climate adaptation strategies should include funding for better winter infrastructure in cities like Toronto.

The absence of a unified approach underscores a broader indifference toward issues that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.

What Needs to Change?

The thing I have continued to harp on is about the next time. Yes, they have mismanaged the snow this time. But what learnings can everyone make for the next one? To avoid repeating these challenges in future winters, Toronto—and Canada as a whole—must adopt a more inclusive and forward-thinking approach:

1. Prioritize Pedestrians and Transit Users:
   • Establish clear service standards for sidewalk and transit stop clearing.
   • Allocate more resources to pedestrian-focused infrastructure during winter months.
     
2. Hold Contractors Accountable:
   • Enforce penalties for underperformance.
   • Consider expanding in-house capacity for critical services like sidewalk plowing.
     
3. Invest in Sustainable Urban Mobility:
   • Accelerate plans for better public transit and cycling infrastructure.
   • Incentivize car-free zones or reduce car dependency in urban centers.
     
4. Improve Coordination Across Governments:
   • Develop a national strategy for extreme weather resilience that includes funding for municipal snow removal programs.

But you know what will happen – none of those things. Next time we get 30 cm of snow, everyone will go back to acting like it’s the first time it happened. Chaos. Leaving the residents of Toronto to fend for themselves.

At Least it is Almost Spring

The recent snowstorm has exposed deep flaws in how Toronto manages winter weather. From its car-centric priorities to systemic inefficiencies in governance, the city’s response has left many residents feeling neglected—especially those who rely on sidewalks or public transit. This moment should not just be about digging out from under the snow; it should be about rethinking how we design our cities and allocate resources.

Before I close, I do want to thank all the people busting their asses to move snow. Obviously it’s easier to complain about what isn’t being done. Whether it is the neighbourhood kids trying to make some money, the plow drivers working around the clock, or the folks pushing cars out of the way so Streetcars can get by, we see you. These are the people who won’t get their 30 seconds on the news. But we should be taking their actions to heart and doing our part to tackle snow. If you own a property. Take care of it. I really don’t get why that message is not being blasted from the rooftops by the City of Toronto (and enforcing it).

So yes, now you are probably even more tired of “snow chat” than you were before. But If Toronto truly wants to be a world-class city that values sustainability and inclusivity, it must move beyond its dependence on cars and invest in infrastructure that serves everyone—regardless of how they travel.

This is just one man’s opinion. Maybe it will be a future story on Law and Order: Toronto. DUN DUN.