[Rico Rommheim]

Que. town's mayor tells snow critics to take a hike … to Mexico
Last Updated: Monday, February 18, 2008 | 4:03 PM ET
CBC News
The mayor of Huntingdon, Que., said he won't apologize for a letter he sent to taxpayers that encourages people with complaints about snow removal to move to Mexico.

'It's always the same bunch of crying babies who are like a cancer, very negative, always complaining about something. If you're not happy, then just leave.'

—Mayor Stéphane Gendron
Titled "complaint syndrome," the letter suggests citizens who aren't happy with snow removal operations should take a trip down south to "lift your spirits."

"For those who want the streets and sidewalks to be completely down to blacktop during the winter period, we invite you to temporarily move to Mexico," read the letter, dated Feb. 12.

Stéphane Gendron, who is mayor of the town about 70 kilometres southwest of Montreal, said he's unrepentant about his brash tone.

"It's always the same bunch of crying babies who are like a cancer, very negative, always complaining about something," he said in an interview with CBC News. "If you're not happy, then just leave."

Snow removal operations take time when the weather fluctuates around the thaw point, which is typical during Quebec winters, Gendron said.

"It's like hysteria" when local residents complain about the time it takes to clear out the snow, he said. "People forgot about winter."

He said he's also tired of people who ask for more municipal services but complain about taxes.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2008/02/18/qc-huntingdon0217.html

Now here's a mayor who talks sense. I'm also friggin' tired of news reports that spend half their air time reporting on the weather, discussing abput the weather, dissecting weather, consumed with weather. Every single time a snow flake touches the sidewalks of Montreal all of the news channels start going crazy and bitching and crying and reminiscing about the non snowing days. In the summer every time a drop of water touches the pavement everyone starts bitching and asking when it'll stop raining. But when it doesn't snow or rain in a long time everyone wants it back! Something's got to give. :hell:

Also I commend the mayor for speaking out about people who want more services and less taxes. People who bitch about this should be locked up!

[vid]

He says what we're all thinking!!

[Lyle]

Ah, get real. We all love talking and bitching about the weather. It's part of what makes us Canucks. That said, and even though the mayor of Huntingdon is a blowhard, in this case he's right. If you can't stand the cold, get back in the kitchen!

[Nicko999]

I agree with the mayor:D

[someone123]

Quebec winters are pretty awful. You need about 10 degrees of global warming.

[MTLskyline]

I have to say that I agree with the masses and the asses here. I would be much happier if we didn't have any snow any time of the year except Christmas!

As for snow removal, I live in the city of St. Lambert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lambert%2C_QC) which refuses to clear residential sidewalks to save $45,000. Weirdest thing is that the city of 20,000 people is relatively affluent compared to its neighbours. An extra $2 of municpal tax per person would get our sidewalks cleared!!

Cutback gets a chilly reception
South Shore city looks to economize by reducing service on residential sidewalks

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/mtgz/20080218/138732-43797.jpg
Scraping by: Serge Rainville clears the sidewalk in front of his St. Lambert home. Rainville says the city's policy of not removing snow from sidewalks in residential areas poses a huge safety risk.
JOHN KENNEY THE GAZETTE

DAVID JOHNSTON
The Gazette

Monday, February 18, 2008

A decision by the affluent suburb of St. Lambert to try to save money by cutting back on snow-clearing of residential sidewalks has drawn local opposition.

Although snow-clearing is the South Shore city's responsibility, a petition drive by St. Lambert residents to restore full sidewalk snow removal is being watched closely by other municipalities.

With municipal governments under pressure to contain costs in the face of relatively stagnant revenues from property taxes, the St. Lambert row raises the question of whether municipalities should clear snow from sidewalks in residential areas at all.

In many parts of Toronto, for instance, property owners are legally responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks bordering their land; failure to do so brings a $105 fine.

There's no such penalty in St. Lambert - at least not yet.

Mayor Sean Finn says the city is simply looking at new ways to shave budget costs.

Sidewalks in St. Lambert's central commercial district are still being cleared by city equipment, as are arterial roads and the busiest residential streets. Overall, 40 per cent of all residential streets - the quietest ones - have been affected by the cuts, St. Lambert city manager Michèle Lortie says.

Despite the petition presented to city hall Wednesday night, the sidewalk snow-clearing cuts will stay in effect through the end of this winter, but a policy review will be held after that, Lortie said.

She said she doesn't know of any other suburb in the Montreal region that has taken similar action this winter.

An aide to Marcel Tremblay, the city of Montreal executive-committee member in charge of snow-clearing, said Montreal has no plans to adopt St. Lambert's or Toronto's policies with respect to sidewalks.

"It's in no way something we are considering," said the aide, Maxime Chagnon.

In St. Lambert, the snow-clearing cuts are expected to save a total of $45,000, or $2 per resident.

From a risk-benefit point of view, that's just not worth it, says Serge Rainville, a local resident who has organized the petition drive. The petition has drawn 1,124 signatures so far.

There are 13,118 civic addresses, residential and non-residential, in St. Lambert. Rainville sent each a copy of the petition he drew up, largely at his own expense.

There have been no injuries on sidewalks affected by the cuts this winter, Lortie and Rainville agree.

Still, Rainville said, the new policy exposes residents to unacceptably high safety risks.

Rainville, an engineer, said he visited 12 St. Lambert streets and found hardly anybody has been clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes. He said he has been clearing his own section of sidewalk, but he still thinks that should be the city's job.

"That has nothing to do with whether St. Lambert is a rich community or not, by Montreal standards; I just think sidewalks need to be cleared in residential areas, period," he said.

In Toronto, Canada's largest city, almost total compliance by residents with the snow-clearing bylaw means safety questions relating to uncleared sidewalks have not become a political issue.

On the other hand, Toronto receives only 150 centimetres of snow in an average winter, compared with Montreal's 250.

djohnston@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008

[Architype]

Snow removal from sidewalks is a big issue in St. John's NL too, where the snow clearing budget is already $12.5 million.

By contrast, Vancouver spends only about $400,000, Montreal $128 million, and Toronto about ~$64 million.

[The Jabroni]

I've been saying this for a quite a while...

First of all, this is Canada. We're bound to get the cold and get snowed upon during the winter months. Any complaints about said cold and snow is null and void. If you can't stand it, then you're NOT a Canadian.

Second of all, WTF!!??

[Spocket]

As long as the snow is still being cleared eventually then I'm with the mayor. It does get tiresome to hear people whining about how their street is still covered in snow 24 hours after a major snow dump.
Foregoing sidewalk clearance is a silly idea though. Seniors and the disabled can't be expected to take care of that sort of thing. I suspect though that there must be some people willing to clear their sidewalks for a little cash.

[harls]

That mayor has a history of being a no-nonsense tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy.

Cool.