Ice storm: Hydro crews work to restore power to remaining customers

VIDEO: Despite promises otherwise, the power is still out for some Torontonians. Sean O’Shea reports. 

TORONTO – It’s been a long, cold, and often dangerous job, but hydro crews are finally near to completing their enormous task in Eastern Canada.

By Tuesday evening approximately 100 Toronto Hydro customers remained without power, another 250 in Quebec, and roughly 800 more in New Brunswick.

That’s down from more than 600,000 at the height of the brutal ice storm that swept across southern Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada a week and a half ago.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford had said he hoped everyone in the city would be reconnected Monday, but Toronto Hydro is now hoping to finish the job today.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said more private-sector donations had been secured to help compensate those who had to throw out food.

Shoppers Drug Mart, Metro and Sobeys each chipped in $25,000 in gift cards, following a similar donation announced Sunday by Loblaw Co,. And Coppas Fresh Market, gave $5,000 in gift cards.

The province has pledged to match donations up to a maximum of $100,000.

Wynne stressed the gift cards – which can be picked up at Ontario Works offices in Toronto – are meant for people who can’t afford to replace the spoiled food.

But there were reports that some locations had already run out of the cards this morning.

Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, who dropped by one of the offices to see how things were going, said he understood the frustration of those who lined up, only to leave empty-handed.

“The first evidence that we have was that the demand was far, far higher than the province had anticipated,” Kelly said.

“If I were one of them I would certainly be annoyed. I don’t blame them.”

Kelly says one solution would be to try to get more private donations, which the province would then match.

NB Power spokesman Brent Staeben says about 800 customers have yet to be reconnected, with outages still being reported in Rothesay, St. Stephen and Sussex.

Staeben says all but 200 customers should have power to ring in New Year’s Day.

He says 264 line and tree-trimming crews will continue to work until all power is restored.

Meanwhile, it appears the region will get a much-needed reprieve from a winter storm developing over the U.S. seaboard.

Environment Canada says a major winter storm initially headed for the Maritimes is now expected to pass well south of the region Friday, though some snow and strong winds are possible.

But the province’s Emergency Measures Organization is asking people to check on vulnerable neighbours and to keep pets indoors as it will be very cold over the next few days.

BELOW: Get the full Skytracker weather forecast for Toronto and the GTA for Tuesday, December 31, 2013