When Budgets Freeze but Complaints Melt Records: A Data Story About Winter in Edmonton
Between 2014 and 2025, Edmonton residents filed over 209,000 snow and ice complaints through the city's 311 system. But here's the surprising truth: it's not about how much snow is falling—it's about how the city responds to it. Our analysis reveals a troubling trend: even as snowfall decreases, complaints are skyrocketing. Something is fundamentally broken in Edmonton's snow clearing operations.
In 2017, Edmonton received 317cm of snow and 9,529 complaints (30 complaints/cm). By 2023, with only 62cm of snow, there were still 15,084 complaints (242 complaints/cm). Residents aren't complaining because of more snow—they're complaining because the service is deteriorating.
Edmonton's Snow and Ice Control budget tells a story of chronic underinvestment. While the city's population grew 26% and resident expectations increased, the snow clearing budget barely kept pace with inflation—let alone the exploding demand for service.
Between 2019 and 2021, the snow clearing budget was cut by nearly $6 million (from $63.7M to $58.1M). The result? Complaints doubled from 14,992 to 26,614 in 2020. The city's reactive 2022 budget increase came only after the January 2022 disaster.
January 2022 wasn't just bad—it was catastrophic. In a single month, Edmonton received more snow complaints than the entire year of 2016. The 311 system was overwhelmed, response times stretched to breaking point, and residents took to social media to document impassable streets.
December 2021 saw 10,313 complaints—already a warning sign. Then January 2022 exploded to 13,632, followed by February at 9,839. In just three months, the city received nearly 34,000 complaints—more than most entire years.
Not all neighborhoods experience snow clearing equally. Our analysis reveals patterns: some areas consistently file more complaints, and there's a measurable correlation between property values and complaint rates.
The positive correlation (0.41) between property values and complaints suggests wealthier neighborhoods complain more. This could indicate higher expectations, better awareness of 311, or genuinely worse service in newer suburban developments with longer routes.
How long does it take the city to address a snow complaint? The answer has varied dramatically—and tells another story of declining service. Response times peaked during the budget cut years and have never fully recovered.
Edmonton isn't getting more snow—it's getting worse at clearing it. Years of budget stagnation, combined with a growing city, have created a snow clearing system that can't keep up.
Edmontonians pay property taxes that fund city services including snow clearing. But as taxes rise, are we getting better service? Our analysis of over 5 million property assessments reveals that while homeowners are paying significantly more, the snow clearing service they receive has actually gotten worse.
Between 2017 and 2022, property taxes for the median Edmonton home increased by $436/year (+14%), while complaints about snow clearing nearly quadrupled from 9,529 to 37,770. Edmontonians are paying more and receiving worse service.
Data tells a story, but change requires action. Edmonton's snow clearing crisis won't fix itself—it requires engaged citizens who demand better service and hold elected officials accountable. Here's how you can make your voice heard.
Every complaint matters. When you report a snow clearing issue, it gets logged in the 311 system—the same data that powered this analysis. Your reports create accountability and help identify problem areas.
Submit a 311 Request →You can report: unplowed roads, icy sidewalks, blocked intersections, and more.
City councillors approve the snow clearing budget and set service priorities. Municipal elections have historically low turnout—your vote has real impact. Ask candidates: "What's your plan for snow clearing?"
Edmonton Elections Info →Next municipal election: October 2025. Make sure you're registered to vote.
Don't wait for an election. City councillors represent your ward and vote on budget decisions. A phone call or email about snow clearing conditions in your neighborhood gets noticed.
Find Your Councillor →This analysis is fully open source. View the raw data, Python scripts, and visualization code on GitHub. Fork it, improve it, or use the methodology for your own city's data.
View on GitHub →The average Edmonton homeowner pays over $3,700/year in property taxes. Snow clearing is a core city service funded by these taxes. You have every right to expect it to work—and to demand change when it doesn't.