Montreal Grapples with Severe Equipment Shortage Affecting Winter Operations
Montreal is currently facing a significant equipment shortage that is severely hampering its ability to perform essential winter maintenance tasks, including snow removal and pothole repairs. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has publicly acknowledged this critical issue, painting a concerning picture of the city's operational capabilities during the harsh winter months.
Mayor Reveals Alarming 25% Equipment Deficit
In a recent interview aired on Radio-Canada, Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada disclosed that 25 percent of the city's essential equipment is currently missing or out of service. This substantial deficit is creating major challenges for municipal workers tasked with keeping Montreal's streets safe and navigable during winter conditions.
"Right now there is 25 per cent of our equipment that's missing," Mayor Martinez Ferrada told interviewer Patrice Roy. She further explained that a persistent backlog on repairs is exacerbating the situation, creating uncertainty about when vital machinery will return to service.
Boroughs Struggle with Non-Functional Machinery
The equipment shortage is particularly acute at the borough level, where essential vehicles are failing at alarming rates. Mayor Martinez Ferrada provided specific examples that illustrate the severity of the problem:
- In Montreal North borough, all four salt spreaders in the vehicle fleet are currently non-operational, forcing the borough to rent a salting vehicle to maintain basic services
- Half of the city's pothole-patching vehicles are out of service, with only two of four normally available vehicles currently functional
The mayor noted that "the running gag between the boroughs is once we send a machine in for repairs we don't know when it will come back," highlighting the systemic nature of the maintenance delays.
Complaints Double as Services Deteriorate
The equipment crisis has directly impacted service quality, resulting in a dramatic increase in citizen complaints. According to city data:
- Between November 2024 and January 2025, the city received 792 complaints about winter maintenance issues
- During the same period from 2025 to 2026, complaints more than doubled to 1,591
This 101% increase in complaints clearly demonstrates how the equipment shortage is affecting residents' daily lives and their perception of municipal services.
Emergency Powers and Future Planning
Mayor Martinez Ferrada outlined both short-term and long-term strategies to address the equipment crisis. In the immediate term, she noted that Quebec legislation provides her office with emergency powers that could be used to accelerate the purchase of new equipment when necessary.
Looking ahead, the mayor expressed her intention to "get through this winter and make a tour of the boroughs so that next winter, we'll be in a better position to manage snow removal." This suggests a comprehensive review of equipment needs and maintenance procedures across all Montreal boroughs.
The situation represents a significant challenge for Montreal's municipal administration as it attempts to maintain basic infrastructure services during one of Canada's most demanding winter seasons. With equipment shortages affecting multiple boroughs and critical functions, city officials face mounting pressure to implement effective solutions before next winter arrives.
