It was an idea that earned former Mayor Mel Lastman more than his fair share of ridicule. But after a winter wallop like we haven't seen in years, some are starting to see where Lastman was coming from when he recruited the Canadian military to help clean up the remnants of a series of blizzards that struck in 1999.
"We need Mel to come in with the army," one Torontonian joked. "Where are you, Mel?"
It may have been a light-hearted remark, but there's nothing funny about the state of
Toronto
's streets following our latest brush with Mother Nature.
The snow began falling on Friday afternoon and continued throughout the day Saturday, coating city streets and sidewalks with between 15 and 40 centimetres of snow. Woodbridge was hit particularly hard, with about 40 centimetres of accumulation. In Toronto, High Park residents also had to contend with 30 centimetres.
Snow plows and salters were out from the get-go working to clear main thoroughfares and side streets in time for Monday morning's commute. The cleanup has so far set the city back $5 million. That brings Toronto's snow clearing total to $45 million for the season - the annual budget for the task is $67 million.
And while the main routes are in good shape, many residents of side streets are still waiting for a plow. The city is telling them to be patient - it can take up to 24 hours or more after a significant storm to get to all the back roads.
But many are losing patience.
"I don't expect we'll see pavement here probably until the end of April, given the city's record for cleaning things up," said one disgruntled Cabbagetown resident.
Another added, "They did plow (my street) but it's extremely narrow. It's not a one way street. I don't know how cars are going to get by both ways. It's frustrating and nerve-wracking."
Shovelling-weary Ontarians aren't the only victims of the brutal 2007-08 winter. Downtown roads are in terrible shape, and the city could go as much as $1 million over budget to fix the increasing number of potholes. More than 37,000 of the craters have been repaired since December 1, 2007 - that's over 15,000 more than the same period last year.
If it seems like the city saw a record amount of snowfall this winter, it nearly has. With 195 centimetres of accumulation so far in '07-'08, we're approaching the record of 207 centimetres set in 1938-39. With more snow expected in the forecast Tuesday, albeit a lighter snowfall, the city will move ever closer to breaking that record.
Temperatures will rise later in the week, peaking at 7C on Thursday. That'll cause much of the snow we've received over the last few weeks to melt, bringing the possibility of flooding. Friday will dip to 6C, and the weekend will see the mercury fall further, to about freezing.
Want to complain because your street still hasn't been plowed?
Find out who to contact here.