A confrontation between a City of Peterborough snowplow operator and a resident has resulted in an assault charge and is raising concerns about the treatment of municipal workers across Ontario.
In a media release issued Friday, Peterborough police confirmed a man has been charged with assault in connection to an incident with a sidewalk plow operator last week.
Officers were called to the area of Marsh Avenue and Broadway Boulevard around 11 a.m. on Feb. 11 following a report that a resident had opened the door of a city snow clearing machine and twice tried to remove the driver’s hearing protection.
Investigators say they later received video of the incident.
A 56-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with assault. He was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court in May.
However, this interaction is not the first of its kind. Over the past couple months, several similar incidents have been reported within the province.
The union representing the worker issued a statement to Global News saying the incident has left their members unsettled.
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“Our members are definitely very concerned and definitely feel a little bit intimidated by this most recent incident,” CUPE Local 504 said.
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“The sad reality is that instances of assault, abuse, and harassment are increasing towards city workers. We go to work every day to do our jobs, serving Peterborough, and we do that with pride and responsibility and in response, we regularly get screamed at.”
The union says aggressive encounters are not uncommon for public works staff.
“People have thrown shovels in the past at our trucks and also verbally aggressive towards members,” the statement said.
The Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) told Global News it has raised concerns with provincial officials, citing what it describes as a pattern of harassment, threats and interference involving municipal workers, particularly during winter maintenance operations.
In letters sent to the province, the organization outlined reported incidents including an individual allegedly throwing a large chunk of ice at active municipal equipment, a resident threatening to kill a sidewalk plow operator, and a man climbing onto a snowplow and refusing to get off.
Other examples cited include a voicemail threatening to shoot a plow driver with a shotgun, and an incident in which a resident allegedly jumped in front of an active plow during a major snow event, delaying operations for more than an hour.
“What was once the occasional frustrated complaint… has evolved into a growing safety risk that is disrupting municipal operations,” said Karla Musso-Garcia, president of the AORS.
The organization says these types of encounters can have wider consequences as winter maintenance crews play a critical role during heavy snow periods.
“When winter maintenance operations are delayed due to unsafe conditions created by members of the public, the ripple effect can be significant,” said Kelly Elliott, the group’s interim executive director.
In one of its letters to Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini, the AORS called for stronger legal protections for municipal winter maintenance crews.
The organization said it would like the province to treat interference with snow clearing operations with the same severity it treats obstruction of emergency responders.
It also asked Ontario to consider clearer public safety rules aimed at reducing risks to snowplow crews and those who maintain critical services.
– With files from Global News’ Madeline McColl
Teach them how to use the equipment properly before you send them out
People got frustrated probably because of how they do they job…mess is everywhere.Off course,no one should be aggressive towards public workers’ ..but it happen..
Hope the charges are dropped. I’ve had to call the police on these clowns after one rammed a snowbank well up on my property. Looked like they were intoxicated on the job. There have been numerous complaints around the country against these baboons. When I filled a complaint with the city over this incident and the numerous incidents of them dumping snow on the sidewalk in front of my house, they tried to blame the local Dollarama. When I contacted Dollarama’s HQ on the off chance that it was them, the woman was more than upset with the accusations by city staff as her garden was torn up by these types of low lives. Stop employing morons who harass the general public.
How can someone be shaken by just pulling their ear buds out of their ears ? Most of the citys don’t clean the snow properly and it angered some residents more than the others, no one should be assaulted. People must get together against their city management not the employees.
Operators should be allowed to continue clearing the streets or sidewalks regardless of who or what gets in front of them. The resident or individual idiot that jumps in front of the snow clearing machine can deal with the consequences. After all, it was their choice to in a way that is unsafe for everyone involved.
I have also been upset by sidewalk snowplow drivers in Toronto not being more carefully to my property. They often plow chunks earth and grass from my lawn all over the walkway. Its my property they’re damaging and Im.sick of it.
Maybe stop filling in everyones driveways, and get the machines that scoop out the driveway entrance after.
Anyone surprised.
New world order.
Sad but true.
Not once did the other side of the story get mentioned. Quite obviously the operator yapped or did something. These folks are not perfect by any means
While never condoning any behavior whereas municipal workers are put in harm’s way.
Why such a one sided story?
If you are having an uptick in this kind of frustration, there has to be a reason.
Seems like everyone in Canada over the last ten years is just a bit angrier….wonder why?
Terry Swiech comment is part of this issue.
Maybe the city should raise the plow infront of his property to the center of thr road way.
So now he can shovel the roadway in front of his property…DAH
Snow plow operators seem to take great pleasure in blocking driveways. Not surprising that someone is going to snap.