Paul Vienneau says Halifax needs better sidewalk-clearing guidelines

Paul Vienneau, who made headlines for clearing icy sidewalks from his wheelchair last winter, wants to help Halifax develop sidewalk snow-removal guidelines.

The problem, he says, is it's now open to interpretation at what point a sidewalk is considered cleared.

"I have this belief that when a supervisor drives by a site in a truck, they can't tell what it's like for people who don't walk. Everything looks smooth and looks even," said Vienneau.

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Vienneau says a guideline would "take all the subjectiveness out."

He says people with mobility issues aren't considered when it comes to clearing sidewalks. Vienneau said he missed more than a month of work last winter because of messy sidewalks.

 
Matt Whitman, the councillor for Hammonds Plains - St. Margarets, agrees there should be a guide. He said he wants Vienneau to meet with Trevor Harvie, the city's acting supervisor of winter operations.

"We spend millions on consultants every year," Whitman said. "Here's a guy who not only wants to consult with us for free, but he's out there physically doing the labour for us.

"He's the best consultant money can buy and we're getting him for free."

Whitman said he would like to see guidelines put in writing, and says city supervisors and contractors could learn from Vienneau.

Vienneau says he would also like to help create similar guidelines for construction work on sidewalks. For instance, concrete portions of sidewalks removed from Spring Garden Road this summer led to difficulties for people with mobility issues.