“As part of a pilot project to be implemented on certain streets of Pointe Claire, the Public Works Department will proceed shortly with the installation of signs on one side of your street, prohibiting parking at any time between Nov. 15 and April 15,” wrote Réjean Cauchon, president of the traffic committee, in a letter sent to concerned citizens. According to the letter, which was dated the month of January, the project’s goal is to improve snow removal operations and to make it easier for emergency vehicles to pass, which is difficult when there are vehicles parked on both sides of the street.
The city has stated that the residents of the 16 affected streets are still able to park their car across the street between 7 a.m. and midnight, all winter.
A number of citizens expressed their discontent with the pilot project to Mayor Bill McMurchie at the Feb. 15 council meeting. Pointe Claire citizen Victoria Duckworth took the opportunity to read an emotional letter to council, in which she denounced the project. “We are here as citizens to demonstrate clearly that we are opposed to the recent installation of signs prohibiting parking, Duckworth said. She added she was shocked that she was not properly informed on the subject. “Where is the information that shows the 16 streets that were chosen are problematic?” Duckworth, a resident of Radisson St., asked.
Strathcona St. resident Harry Chohan was also at the council meeting to present a petition signed by 17 residents of his street. The petition indicates the signs were put up on Jan. 20. According to Chohan, snow removal occurs about 20 to 25 times during the six months of winter. “We find it difficult to not be able to park our cars in front of our homes. Our guests, our family and even deliverymen don’t have the right to park,” Chohan said. He also proposed two solutions: “Before beginning a snow removal operation, the signs could be put up on the side of the street where it will take place in order to inform residents. In addition, snow removal should be done at night,” Chohan pointed out.
“There are certain sectors of the pilot project where this has not caused reactions among citizens,” McMurchie said, adding it was the public works department that chose the streets -- two per district. “We wanted to take a sample that is representative of the city.”
McMurchie said council has not yet made a final decision on whether the project will be spread to the entire city. The mayor contended that council must still find a way to reduce the "enormous costs" related to snow removal.
In response to criticism from a citizen who questioned whether the pilot project was intended to replenish the city’s coffers through associated parking tickets, McMurchie responded: “To my knowledge, there is nobody who has received such a ticket.”
