Richmond MLA Sizes Up Province's Approach To Historic Snowfall

HALIFAX - While his constituents are bracing for another 20 to 30 centimetres of snow this week, Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau is hopeful that his constituents will remain fully reconnected to their roads, streets and communities following the historic snowfall of the second weekend of February. 

Much of Cape Breton Island and northeastern Nova Scotia received between 100 and 120 centimetres of snow in a continuous 72-hour system that stretched from Friday, February 2 to Monday, February 5. While Richmond County officials did not issue a local state of emergency similar to that of their neighbours in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, many residents were stuck in their driveways for several days, while others found the main arteries connecting their communities impassable. 

Boudreau, who is also Nova Scotia's Minister of Community Services, told Telile LJI journalist Adam Cooke that he was in constant communication with local residents, municipal officials and crews with the province's Department of Public Works (DPW). These discussions centered mainly around eastern Richmond County communities such as Forchu, Framboise, L'Ardoise and St. Peter's.

However, the West Bay Highway - connecting such communities as Dundee, St. George's Channel, Roberta and The Points-West Bay along the Bras d'Or Lake shoreline - was also a site of considerable effort. Boudreau kept his constituents in this area updated through regular Facebook posts, while working with community leaders and DPW crews who worked together to clear the roadway. A snowblower unit originally brought to the West Bay Highway malfunctioned in the early goings, but the DPW was able to bring a larger loader to clear the highway by Tuesday, February 6. 

Today, as the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office works with Richmond municipal officials to ensure the remainder of Richmond County roads are cleared out before another big snowfall hits this week, Boudreau sympathizes with those who have struggled with this month's unprecedented weather. 

"Everybody took an active role - neighbours were helping neighbours," said Boudreau, who also chipped in at the ground level with his own snow-clearing equipment. 

"I have a little tractor that I'm fortunate to have, so I went out...I think I put 15 hours on the tractor, just opening up driveways and stuff. But that's exactly what Cape Bretoners do, and when it comes to Richmond, I give full credit to everybody for understanding the struggles that we had...Kudos to everybody for how they responded to this. It's not something I'll soon forget."