Heather Wright/The Independent

“Seasonal parking pass? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

That from Petrolia Councillor Ross O’Hara as Mayor Brad Loosley suggested a winter street parking pass on local streets.

From November to the end of March, Petrolia residents face fines if they park on the street in front of their home.

Recently, the mayor and the town’s chief administrative officer, talked to a resident who wanted a winter parking pass because his family had too many vehicles to park in the driveway.

O’Hara didn’t hide his feelings about the idea.

“Why do we make things so difficult? The works department did a great job of cleaning the streets, but if they have to go around cars all over the place, the streets are going to be a mess,” O’Hara said.

Councillor Liz Welsh says town staff has to meet minimum maintenance standards and that could be difficult with cars in the way. She added the problem isn’t the lack of parking but too many vehicles.

“If I may, quote mayor from Spain, this is one of my favourite quotes. ‘Is not my duty as mayor, to make sure you have a parking spot. For me, it’s the same as if you bought a cow or a fridge and then ask me where you’re going to put them.’”

Deputy Mayor Joel Field said there were a number of cases this year where cars were left on the street and had to be removed so the streets could be cleared.

“I think if everybody’s going to pay 50 bucks, they’re all going to then park their cars in the road, and we’re going to have complete nightmare,” Field said adding that if anything could be changed is the time cars are banned from parking on the street.

O’Hara didn’t think that was practical, either. “If we’re going to change the dates, then we should pass
a bylaw that there are no storms in December,” he quipped.

Loosley said he only brought the motion to council because of a resident’s request but added Ottawa
allows on-street parking in the winter.

Several councillors commented Ottawa’s streets are clogged in the winter because of on-street parking.