Regina city council eyes fines for uncleared sidewalks

Two Regina city councillors have put forward a motion proposing fines for those who don’t shovel their sidewalks.

Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani and Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens suggested the idea to council Monday night.

Under the motion, the city would clear walks that aren’t shoveled within 48 hours of a snowfall, then send the property owner a bill. Repeat offenders would have to pay the price of the snow removal and a fine.

Bresciani said bylaw officers wouldn’t be monitoring snow-covered sidewalks, but would investigate should they receive a complaint.

She added the idea was meant to make the city more accessible, moreso than to collect money.

“There are seniors, there are moms with strollers who want to walk their kid to school, people with disabilities that have to walk on the sidewalk and sometimes they’re unable to do that,” explained Bresciani, adding she’s personally received a number of calls so far this winter.

She noted many other Canadian cities already fine those who repeatedly don’t clear their sidewalks, including Saskatoon.

If council were to pass the motion, Bresciani said they’d look to see what those cities are doing, then craft a snow-clearing bylaw best-suited for Regina. She said that would include adding provisions for seniors, or people with disabilities that might make it harder for them to clear snow.

City administration is expected to write up some suggestions for a bylaw and present it to city council next month for a vote.

Should the bylaw be passed, it would come into effect next winter.