Yes, Toronto deploys all those mechanisms, when it snows.

The actions you describe require pre-planning and practice. The UK has those in place. I'm pretty sure that Canada does not.

The streets where I live were closed for three days last week and I believe they're closed today. I don't think the rate of snowfall was greater than 4" per day, certainly there's not much more than a foot of snow on the ground now. The issue is blowing snow and lack of visibility.

Of course, if you live in area where the roads are closed you're obliged to ignore the closures; life goes on, driving just becomes something else for which the unhyphenated can issue tickets and penalties.

Not being experienced in handling nutters blowing the public up is not something to be particularly ashamed of.

I don't disagree that London would have better planning in place, but it is not as if Toronto has never seen a fire or blocked off streets before.
No doubt to keep the hyphentaed from causing unnessary accidents and undue harm to the unhyphenated.

Not just the Brits we had 13cm yesterday, there were countless accidents, an overturned bus, cops on the TV warning people not to go out if they don't have to etc. My OH was on the Nanaimo Parkway headed north when a truck that was headed south bounced across the median, crossed the 3 lanes of oncoming traffic & disappeared into the hedge ... OH said it was one of those 'life flashing before your eyes' moments plus the schools were closed ~ thank gawd for the rain the snow has pretty much been washed away today & we're back up to an almost tropical 7c!

Most cities have contingency plans for such situations. While I accept the UK experience may make it slightly more efficient in dealing with the aftermath, it is a little ridiculous to suggest that a country such as Canada would not be able to cope. No-one had experienced a contingency such as 9-11 before it happened, I doubt that anybody can really criticise the way the people on the ground dealt with the aftermath.

Ha! Have you seen the way Canadians dealt with H1N1?

You jest, I suppose, though it's in poor taste. The people on the ground deal with aftermath by passing draconian legislation, invading a country of the uninvolved and launching a grand waves of xenophobia and duct tape buying. Not a edifying spectacle.

My point is that, although we get plenty of warning of impending bad weather we still don't seem prepared enough for it.
You may recall last winter's cold spell,,which was predicted 2 weeks in advance, yet most local authorities ran out of roadf salt.

Actually yes, I have first hand experience of how 'Canadians' dealt with H1N1. The general public and the politicians F'ed up BIG time, certainly here in Calgary the people on the ground did a good job.

Actually, I'd agree with that. I'm sure the people dishing out the vaccines at a local level knew exactly what they were doing, but it doesn't matter how good they are if the politicians botch the job and cause panic everywhere (which they did).

Agreed, but surely its no different to the panic and xenophobia that the Western Govts. (and media) 'promoted' following 9/11 et al?

No, but the scale of 9/11 was unprecedented. I don't blame any government for not having a contingency for that kind of thing.

Mainly to do with costs i would have thought. Should they invest lots of £s on something that may or may not happen once every few years?

In certain areas of Canada this is a regular occurrence during certain times of the year, every year. So they invest in mitigating the problems that can arise.