A Kamloops councillor says there have been concerns of some business owners not clearing sidewalks when it snows.

Speaking on the NL Morning News, Bill Sarai says business owners are notified by mail in those instances, and he says there should be an emergency phone number to speed up the process of clearing snow.

“Our bylaws only give us so much power. We have to give them notice, they have to be aware that there’s a complaint driven, and then they have time to clear it. Well, in that whole time period – it could be a week – the snow is still piling up in front of their businesses, making it hard for our citizens to walk or just get by that business,” he says.

“We have to have a contact number, not a mail address. He could be living in Vancouver, the owner. He could be in Sun Peaks or on a holiday somewhere. We need to have an emergency number to contact him. So it’s complaint driven, bylaw makes that phone call right away and finds out if it’s going to be addressed in a timely manner. And in my opinion if it’s not, or if no one answers, that’s when we have to step up and get city crews in there.”

City bylaws say businesses have to clear sidewalks in front of their buildings by 10 a.m., except on Sundays.