Snow plow operators in Mississauga quit following aggressive behaviour, violence from residents
It’s been a busy March for snow plow operators in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), but according to the City of Mississauga, it’s also been a violent one for some workers in the area.
In an email to CTV News Toronto, the city said there were eight reported incidents between residents and snow removal workers following a significant snowfall earlier this month, the majority of which included instances of residents trying to stop plows from entering their street and prevent snow being left in front of their driveways.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“The incidents included verbal abuse as well as damage to plow trucks by residents using their shovels to break lights and mirrors,” the city said.
The statement follows a letter issued by Ward 10 Coun. Sue McFadden after the early-March storm, in which she shared an email from the city that said a number of contractors had quit due to the abuse.
“As a result of the aggressive behaviour experienced during the last winter event, several staff resigned their position as they did not feel safe doing their job,” the email read.
Much of the GTA was struck by what’s known as “thundersnow” on March 3, a somewhat rare weather event that dropped as much as 30 centimetres of snow in some areas.
Ahead of another winter wallop, before McFadden’s letter was issued, she urged residents to be patient as driveway windrows were once again expected.
“With another 10 cm of snow expected and already on the way today, please demonstrate patience and understanding toward the city crews working to make the roads accessible,” she wrote.
She said Brampton and Caledon experienced “similar issues with residents stopping plowing operators,” and that arrests related to the behaviour were made in Milton and Oshawa. In the latter instance, police in Durham Region told CTV News Toronto that a man was charged with assaulting a snow plow driver after a pile of snow blocked his driveway.
For Peel police’s part, a spokesperson told CTV News Toronto that the service was not aware of any such reported incidents.
In Toronto, snow clearing efforts left much to be desired in some areas.
In one instance, a family accused the city of “negligence” after a man broke his ankle when he slipped on uncleared snow. In another, volunteers travelled to 30 different streetcar stops and cleared mountains of snow that had blocked access to public transit.
Ward 17 Coun. Shelley Carroll acknowledged people in Toronto are in “high dudgeon” about snow removal this year, but that any complaints should be formally submitted to the city.
“They’re not prepared to go through the normal complaint processes and every municipality in the GTHA goes to great pains in the fall to say, ‘We’re going to start snow plowing the first time it snows and if you have an issue here’s where to call and here’s how to get it addressed,’” she told NEWSTALK 1010’s Moore in the Morning on Thursday.
“There are ways to do that without just berating some guy who is certainly not the manager of this system.”
Carroll is one of two Toronto councillors who want staff to undertake a “comprehensive review” of the city’s snow clearing operations this winter, with a specific focus on preventing homeowners and maintenance staff from dumping ice and snow on sidewalks and bike lanes.
That joint motion will be considered by Toronto’s infrastructure and environment committee next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.