Southwest mayor to bring in 'exceptional' snow-clearing measures

Southwest borough Mayor Benoît Dorais has approved "exceptional measures" to clear 40-plus centimetres of snow that fell since Tuesday.

Dorais said the borough will bring in additional people and equipment to speed up the clearing.

• 'In Saint-Henri, you're stuck at home': Snow-filled Southwest poses challenge for wheelchair users

"Several streets and sidewalks in the Southwest continue to be difficult to access and unsafe," wrote Dorais in a statement. "That is why, after discussions with my team and in agreement with the members of the borough council, I decided to exercise my emergency powers."

Snow will also be removed by municipal employees using snow blowers in areas where plows cannot pass.

He said additional parking would be available at local businesses outside regular hours from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., until Monday, March 20. The businesses are all located west of Charlevoix Street, which means no additional parking is available in Griffintown.

• Snow removal operations in Southwest borough called 'pitiful'

Last month the Southwest borough executive recommended that Montreal city council break its five-year contract with Pavages D'Amour for snow-clearing following multiple complaints about the company's work.

Dorais said citizens were right to be upset about the poor job of snow removal so far this winter.