By Cheryl Jahn

city hall

Council remains undecided on snow removal budget

May 26, 2025 | 9:37 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Even though the budget for the coming year has been approved, the Snow and Ice Control budget was up for discussion around Council Chambers last night.

The initial discussion arose during budget discussions earlier this year when questions were presented around snow removal during stat holidays.

Councillor Brian Skakun noted that the current bylaw was created in 2014, which sets out the time within certain routes are cleared depending upon the amount of snow that has fallen.

“If you look at what we’re paying, they’re fixed costs,” he noted. “We can’t get away from that. I just want to make sure when we look at overtime and things like that, that we have an actual number on what snow removal is actually costing us. Because in December, [City staff] were pruning trees on 15th Avenue. There wasn’t much snow. That isn’t necessarily snow removal.”

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He broached the question of whether having staff and contractors on stand by is a part of the financial equation.

“The Snow and Ice Control bylaw was approved by Council in 2014,” noted Blake McIntosh, Director of Civic Operations. “Those are the guiding principles for snow removal. We achieved those thresholds. As a result of internal resources and capacity, we need to hire contractors. Graders, loaders, trucks to offload. Some nights were offloading 500 truckloads. All those things cost money.”

He noted that if Council wished to change the service levels, the policy could be brought back for review.

“I appreciate the work that’s done, but I have no interest in changing the service levels,” said Councillor Skakun.

Councillor Tim Bennett added that “for the most part” feedback from the public has been good.

“In ten years, we’ve added how many kilometres of road. Added to that, the complexity of the weather patterns we’re seeing. And the snow budget has not increased that much. We’re trying to do more with less.”

He noted that between two “snow events” last year, there was roughly $130,000 in overtime costs.

“If I’m looking at where to adjust service, there could be a decision of Council to look at how quickly or when we respond. Because I feel like right now there were just two snow events that have accumulated $130,000 of overtime to remove the snow in the timelines that we have agreed to.”

“In Prince George, we offer the best, the very, very best snow removal service, probably, in the country, added Mayor Simon Yu. “From coast to coast, no question. But it comes with a cost, of course,” adding that weather patterns are changing. Those are freeze and thaw and those cause havoc to our roads as well. We really need to engage the public to understand the cost “associated with such deluxe services.”