Perhaps Aesop’s most famous fable is the tale of the ant and the grasshopper. The grasshopper suffers come winter because, unlike the ants, he failed to prepare.
When it comes to snow removal, we’re the grasshopper.
Friday’s commute, whether by transit or personal vehicle, was abominable thanks to an early morning dump of snow.
It’s a common theme among the armchair commentariat that our municipalities were somehow caught off guard, that they were sluggish in responding or that their priorities were elsewhere.
The fact is, in each of our winter storms, they’ve been hitting the streets with all they’ve got. They just haven’t got all that much.
We have the snow clearing budgets of a typical Caribbean island because, most years, our balmy climate doesn’t result in many visits from the white menace.
Some might argue it makes no sense to spend a lot of money for snowplows that will stay in storage most years. Others may feel it is worth the investment to have the capacity there when we need it.
But councils won’t go raising taxes and buying expensive gear unless they feel there’s a critical mass of people telling them to.
The District of North Vancouver held its annual budget public input period last month and only three people came to speak. Not one of them was there to ask for more snowplows.
The City of North Vancouver will be holding its on Monday and the District of West Vancouver later this month. Both will welcome your input online as well.
The bottom line is, we get what we pay for.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
