Mayor Christa Lowry announced on January 25, 2026, in a video update that the upcoming Mississippi Mills, Ontario, budget will include additional funding to improve snow removal services. The decision follows a difficult winter period where local crews struggled to keep up with heavy snowfall and ice.
The town has faced several related challenges recently, including a “Significant Weather Event” declared on December 28, 2025. Clearing the roads was further complicated after a February 7, 2025 fire at the Ramsay garage destroyed a 2002 International snow plow. The municipality recorded an estimated replacement cost of about $450,000 for that unit, received an insurance settlement of $31,600, and staff said they would seek a used replacement in the $30,000–$90,000 range.
According to local reporting and the municipal briefing, the new funding is intended to target equipment upgrades (including replacing lost or aging fleet units) and could support increased second‑shift capacity or additional staffing/resources to clear urban sidewalks more quickly. The move comes in response to resident concerns about long wait times for plows to reach rural concession roads and neighbourhood paths.
Residents are invited to share their input on which streets or services should be prioritized via the Municipality of Mississippi Mills’ 2026 Budget Spotlight page. Mayor Lowry and council will review that resident feedback ahead of the scheduled February 2026 council meeting when they consider and vote on the final budget.
