Blowing up a storm: Snowblowers in Canada

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Nancy Hofmann

Most parts of Canada experience snow every winter. Clearing driveways and sidewalks is backbreaking work, but household snowblowers can make the job easier and faster. However, gas-powered snowblowers affect the environment since burning fossil fuels emits air pollutants. The amount of particulate matter emitted depends on the make, age and model—some new motors are more efficient.¹

Canadians spend a considerable amount of money on their household snowblowers. In 2003, more than 200,000 households purchased a snowblower, with half spending over $800.²

Just over 20% of households³ owned a gas-powered snowblower in 2006.⁴ Snowblowers were most popular in New Brunswick, where they were owned by 36% of households (Chart 1). Only households in two provinces, Alberta and British Columbia, had fewer than the national average.

Snowblower ownership is affected by a variety of socio-economic, cultural and climatic influences. Average snowfall is one factor that could impact the rate of ownership (Chart 2). Cities in Eastern Canada appear to have higher snowblower ownership rates, as well as higher levels of snow accumulation. However, in the Central and Western provinces, there is often less snow, but still relatively high ownership rates.

Other factors influencing snowblower ownership might include the length and size of driveways, household incomes and average temperatures. For instance, although Regina ranked fourth for the proportion of households with a snowblower, it had the lowest average snowfall (Chart 2). However, of those cities studied, Regina was the second coldest city, after Winnipeg. Perhaps snowblowers allow residents to avoid the cold.

Footnote

1. Environment Canada, 2007, Snowblower Emissions,www.etc-cte.ec.gc.ca/databases_e.html (accessed October 16, 2007).
2. Statistics Canada, n.d., CANSIM Table 203-0005.
3. Data excludes apartment dwellers.
4. Statistics Canada, Households and the Environment, 2006.