There was no snow removal over the weekend in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough despite the huge piles of snow left behind after Wednesday's storm.
Last month, the borough decided to scale back on snow removal in an effort to bring snow clearing costs under control.
The borough still plows snow on Saturday and Sundays, but it's not carted off in trucks until after the weekend.
Some residents and business owners in the area say they're not impressed.
"The snow removal is pathetic," one woman told CTV Montreal. "You walk and you can't even get over it."
Nelson Souto, who works at a restaurant in the neighbourhood, said the lack of weekend snow removal is bad for business.
"I hear clients complaining there's no parking -- and it doesn't help giving out tickets. They're here not even a minute, and there's somebody giving out tickets," said Souto.
Newly-elected Projet Montreal city councillor Alex Norris blames the cutbacks on a $1.5 million budget shortfall.
But he says the new policy is paying off.
"We've saved taxpayers 150 thousand dollars just this weekend alone," Norris said.
Still, Montreal executive committee vice-chairman Michael Applebaum -- who is now the city's point man on snow removal -- says the borough should reconsider how it handles the snow removal budget.
"You have to manage your personnel properly. if you manage them properly. than you're not paying the additional hours, and you're able to get the job done," Applebaum said.
The borough will hold a public consultation on the issue at the offices of the Montreal Police Brotherhood at 480 Gilford St. (Laurier Metro) on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m.
