David Broom is fed up with being trapped inside his house during winter and wants the City of Hamilton to enforce its snow clearing bylaw. During April’s Senior Advisory Committee meeting, Broom gained unanimous support for a motion calling on the City to proactively enforce its snow removal bylaw.
The Seniors Committee is requesting City staff to provide a feasibility study to determine how to implement enforcement, levy fines, and ensure snow is cleared from pedestrian crossings across Hamilton.
Hamilton is home to over 104,000 seniors and 155,000 people living with disabilities, many of whom, like Broom, find themselves unable to navigate sidewalks—especially at intersections where road snow clearing equipment leaves snow mounts and windrows blocking the sidewalk.
“Seniors and persons with disabilities depend on clear pathways for safe mobility,” Broom stated, adding that inconsistent clearing “undermines their safety and independence, which may lead to psychological and physical isolation.”
Broom cited the City’s 2019 statistics showing there were 2,786 sidewalk snow clearing complaints that year, but the City only issued 62 fines. Due to the City’s 2024 cybersecurity failure, the City of Hamilton is unable to provide more recent information.
The Seniors Committee has requested staff provide the requested report by July 31.
“The reason I did the July 31 deadline was because I didn’t want to see it protracted over and over because we’re going to have another winter coming,” Broom stated.
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson said staff may not be able to meet this timeline.
“I just don’t want to necessarily hold them to the July 31, 2026, deadline,” Jackson stated. “We’ve got the municipal election coming up,” he noted, and City staff have increased spring and summer workloads this year due to the municipal election.
City Council has increased the number of road and community improvement projects to be completed this summer, ahead of the October election.
Jackson said to Broom, “I could see your desire to get a decision going into the winter of 2026–2027 in advance of this Council term concluding.”
Jackson said the new Council can choose to act quickly after the election.
The Seniors Committee has requested staff provide the report by July 31.
“The reason I did the July 31 deadline was because I didn’t want to see it protracted over and over because we’re going to have another winter coming,” Broom stated.
Ward 6 Councillor Tom Jackson said staff may not be able to meet this timeline. “I just don’t want to necessarily hold them to the July 31, 2026, deadline,” Jackson stated. “We’ve got the municipal election coming up, and City staff have increased spring and summer workloads this year.”
City Council has increased the number of road and community improvement projects to be completed this summer, ahead of the October election.
Jackson told Broom he would work with staff to see if a report can be ready before the next winter.
“Let’s get a decision going into the winter of 2026–2027 in advance of this Council term concluding,” Jackson said. “I worry, though, that given the spring and summer workload upon us and the demands on our road network, we may not have the capacity to meet a July deadline.”
Jackson said the incoming council could choose to act quickly after the election. “Whoever is back after October 26 will have time after the swearing-in in mid-November for a first council meeting by late November or early December,” Jackson said. “Whatever recommendations come out of your motion, David, could be implemented then. So it’s not like we would lose out on the next winter for your excellent suggestions.”
The Seniors Committee request will be considered by City Council’s Emergency and Community Services Committee on May 7, followed by the May 13 council ratification meeting.
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Published: April 11, 2026
Last updated: April 11, 2026
Author: Joey ColemanUpdate Record
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