The borough of Anjou, in Montreal’s east end, has been reprimanded by city officials for ordering the streets and sidewalks be cleared of snow and ice.
READ MORE: Montreal official apologizes for not launching snow removal operations sooner
Borough Mayor Luis Miranda told Global News he ordered his work crews to start cleaning the streets and sidewalks shortly after the storm last week — even though he wasn’t given the OK to do so.
“I’m not going to sit down because they’re not doing their job,” he argued.
READ MORE: ‘It’s substandard for sure’: frustration continues with snow removal in NDG
Insisting he has no regrets, Miranda told Global News he is in no mood to take orders from city officials, saying he answers to his residents first.
The mayor argues the central city takes far too long to organize snow removal, and the department in charge of the operations should be scrapped.
“Will they charge me after? I will fight it, no problem. We will see. No regrets,” said Miranda.
READ MORE: NDG residents call for better snow removal
He received a letter from the city reminding him that Anjou wasn’t authorized to remove snow ahead of schedule.
“You have permission to carry out snow-clearing operations only when the central city says so,” the letter states.
“Therefore, we wish to inform you that your borough will be completely responsible for the cost of this operation.”
READ MORE: 6 days after major storm, Montreal snow removal operation nearly complete
City official Jean-François Parenteau, who is in charge of snow removal, insists other boroughs should not follow Anjou’s example.
“We don’t want to make a difference for citizens who live in Anjou, RDP or Verdun,” he said.
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