News Snow & Ice
Edmonton’s snow removal operators anxiously waiting for snow to arrive

While many Edmontonians may be enjoying the later-than-normal arrival of winter, the city’s snow and ice contractors can’t wait for it to snow.

At this time last year, Edmonton had already been blanketed with 25 centimetres of snow. This year, however, snow has been absent except for a light dusting in October.

That’s been a concern for local snow contractors who are paying idle salaried workers. Crews have been biding their time doing equipment maintenance.

Contributing to private snow contractors’ frustrations is the cost of liability insurance – which have seen increases as high as $60,000 a year – plus the carbon tax on fuel.

One Edmonton contractor said it used to cost him $450 a fill for a grader compared with almost $1,000 today.