ABOVE: There may be light at the end of the tunnel – literally – for Toronto residents still without power. Global’s Sean Mallen has the latest
TORONTO – Toronto Hydro says the number of homes and businesses in the dark has dwindled to about 400 and if all goes well, those customers will likely be back on the grid sometime today.
The recent estimates come a week after a fierce ice storm hit Central and Eastern Canada and crippled parts of Toronto.
“I want to thank our staff for the phenomenal job they have done,” said Mayor Rob Ford during a press conference Monday morning. “We’ve never had a storm like this in our history and hopefully we’ll never have to do this again.”
Ford said eight Toronto Community Housing units remain without power and all emergency services are back to normal, including EMS and Toronto Fire Services.
The mayor also said all traffic lights across the city have been restored.
“It’s truly remarkable what the city has done to help each other,” he said.
Meanwhile, Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines said 250 trucks rolled out Monday morning to restore power to the remaining homes and businesses in the city.
Officials say most of the work needed to be done is in backyard areas where electricity lines are hard to reach.
“It’s much more labour intensive than restoring power on the streets,” said Haines.
Haines became emotional when he spoke to the media about the hard work and long hours put in by employees.
WATCH: Toronto officials, including Mayor Rob Ford and Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines, provide an update on day nine of the ice storm recovery
Mayor Ford has called a special meeting of city council to be held Jan. 10 to review ice storm related municipal procedures and a request for provincial assistance under the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.
Elsewhere in Ontario, power is still out for about 1,500 homes and businesses.
All power had been restored to PowerStream customers in Aurora as of 11:40 p.m. Sunday.
WATCH: How much will the ice storm end up costing you? Global’s Cindy Pom breaks down the numbers.
The Toronto District School Board tweeted that all child care sites are open Monday except for Broadlands, Fairmount and Hillmount. Those three are still closed due to “ice storm issues.”
Parents are advised to call the centre for details and plans.
Efforts to fully restore power in New Brunswick could be hampered by a storm that’s bringing winds, freezing rain and snow. NB Power says 3,500 customers have yet to be reconnected.
The utility says most of them could have power by Wednesday, but adds it could take longer depending on the severity of the storm.
Hydro Quebec says about 1,200 customers are still without power.
-with files from The Canadian Press
READ MORE: Food donations offered to Ontario residents affected by ice storm
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