Winter walkability around St. John's won't get a cash boost this upcoming season, as a City of St. John's committee has voted down a proposal to spend any more money on sidewalk snow clearing for 2020-21. Froude called sidewalk snow clearing an "essential service" and his pitch asked for $900,000 toward new equipment and $450,000 on operating funds, like cleaning intersections and sidewalks. Dozens of protesters descended on St. John's City Hall in February to push for better sidewalk clearing. Jamie Korab said he had been supportive of spending more on sidewalk snow clearing, but that was before fiscal one-two punch of Snowmaggedon and COVID-19. The committee also vowed to address the quality of clearing on current pathways, and enforcing existing bylaws that prohibit snow clearing efforts from obstructing sidewalks.

Source: CBC News September 16, 2020 20:15 UTC