The wall of snow \u2014 known as a windrow \u2014 creates a laundry list of problems, which Sanjay says only adds to already harsh winter conditions.<\/p>\n
WINDROWS ARE MORE THAN JUST AN INCONVENIENCE<\/p>\n
Sanjay tells Now Toronto the issue is incredibly frustrating for residents who do their part to keep driveways and sidewalks clear, while he feels the city isn\u2019t upholding its end.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect the city to clean the roads,\u201d he said. \u201cAll this money that we are paying to the government through property taxes, and they\u2019re putting it back into our driveway \u2014 it\u2019s quite frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/City-of-Brampton-snowplows-windrows-1800x917.webp.webp\")
Windrow left by a city snowplow on a Brampton residential street. <\/p>\n
Beyond being an inconvenience, Sanjay says his biggest concern is the impact windrows have on accessibility and safety. Comments under the petition from caregivers and seniors share similar concerns, including being unable to leave home in the event of an emergency and repeated pileups \u2014 sometimes occurring twice in a single day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seniors here, and we need to take care of our parents, our grandparents, and our kids,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a few people actually slip and fall because of this. These windrows just create an extra hazard.\u201d<\/p>\n
With nearly 4,200 signatures at the time of publication, Sanjay says the response is proof that residents are fed up with an issue he says has persisted over the last few winters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat just echoes everyone\u2019s thought process of this frustration, like, \u2018hey, this is actually a real issue,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cWith the current cost of living, with property taxes increasing year over year, we\u2019re paying for these services, but they\u2019re not helping us. They\u2019re putting more work on us. That just doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
CITY ACKNOWLEDGES FRUSTRATION, POINTS TO COST CONCERNS<\/p>\n
Since Dec. 1, 2025, the City of Brampton has received more than 5,000 snow-clearing service requests. During that same period, 369 vehicles were towed and more than 9,400 tickets were issued for obstructing snow-clearing operations.<\/p>\n
A city spokesperson tells Now Toronto it understands residents\u2019 frustrations with windrows but says expanding snow removal services would come with significant cost implications.<\/p>\n
City officials say residents have been consulted several times about adding windrow clearing, most recently during a telephone town hall earlier this week for the 2026 budget. Only 41 per cent of the more than 5,800 participating households supported an average annual property tax increase of approximately $92 to fund the service.<\/p>\n
Instead, the city says it is focused on maintaining affordability while prioritizing major roadways and emergency routes during winter storms, noting snow clearing can take up to 48 hours after a snowfall ends.<\/p>\n