Toronto is receiving assistance from the Ontario government for snow-clearing operations, which allows the city to concentrate its efforts on clearing residential streets and ensuring sidewalks are safe for pedestrians. Mayor Olivia Chow expressed her decision to reach out to the provincial authorities for support in managing the aftermath of last month’s record-breaking snowfall. "I made a call to the province's Ministry of Transportation and pointed out that they had agreed in 2021 to handle snow removal; unfortunately, the city didn’t take that step earlier," Chow remarked at a press conference held earlier this week, where she discussed this strategy among other topics.
The immediate priority for city crews has been to clear main thoroughfares and highways, which they began doing as soon as the snow began falling on January 25. By the end of that day, some areas of Toronto experienced nearly 60 centimeters of snow accumulation, leading to significant challenges for mobility and accessibility.
Initiatives to physically remove the snow—by transporting it to designated dump sites or melting it—started the previous week. However, many main streets and sidewalks remain blanketed with snow, illustrating the immense scale of the cleanup effort. The city stated, ‘It’s going to take days,’ indicating that recovery from this major winter storm will extend into the coming week as they work diligently to restore normalcy.
To facilitate this process, provincial crews are focusing their resources on clearing the remaining snow banks from major routes like the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP). This approach is intended to free up city workers, allowing them to direct more attention towards residential streets and areas with reduced visibility. According to a city spokesperson, these provincial crews commenced work on Saturday night and are expected to operate continuously until they clear the shoulders of the Gardiner and DVP. As of early Tuesday morning, they had already removed 200 loads of snow.
While the exact cost of this emergency contract remains somewhat uncertain, the mayor’s office has indicated that the maximum expenditure could reach up to $950,000. This situation highlights the complexities and financial implications of managing a significant weather event.
In parallel, calls for service to Toronto’s 311 hotline have been steadily decreasing. City Manager Paul Johnson acknowledged last week that the 311 line was overwhelmed with requests, particularly regarding sidewalk clearing. "Clearly, there are deficiencies in our performance concerning sidewalk maintenance," he noted at that time. Since then, the city has reported the removal of approximately 150,000 tonnes of snow, which has contributed to a reduction in call volumes.
City officials have assured residents that crews are working around the clock to clear away the remaining snow. Additionally, inspectors are actively identifying sidewalks and bike lanes that may require further plowing or salting. Residents are encouraged to report any problematic areas to the 311 service for timely attention.
On January 25, the city declared a Major Snowstorm Condition and Significant Weather Event, a status that is still in effect. Parking restrictions on streets designated as snow routes continue to be enforced to aid the snow-clearing efforts. For those interested in tracking the progress of the city’s snow plows, a dedicated online resource is available.
