The City of Winnipeg will carry out a comprehensive review of its snow clearing operations that will look at the quality of work associated with private contractors

Council voted on Wednesday afternoon to approve the review, which will also examine the costs and the history of complaints related to contractors.

About 80 per cent of the snow clearing work in the city is currently done by private companies. The review could potentially recommend that more of that work be done by city employees.

The review is expected to be complete by June.

Earlier on Wednesday, the union representing city employees made its case for a review.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 has already launched a website and hotline to collect Winnipeg residents' experiences — both good and bad, it insisted — on snow clearing.

Mayor Brian Bowman, wearing a pink shirt on Pink Shirt Day in support of anti-bullying programs, listens to arguments by CUPE that more snow clearing should be performed by city workers. Bowman has said he's looking for ways to improve city services. (Bert Savard/CBC) At city hall on Wednesday, union president Mike Davidson asked councillors to support a motion calling for an analysis of snow clearing costs between private contractors and city workers.

Davidson said city workers would do a more efficient job than private contractors.

Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Marty Morantz challenged Davidson, asking how he would feel if the review determines it's cheaper to use private contractors.

Davidson told council that a number cities in Canada use both private contractors and public workers, but at a lower cost than Winnipeg.

He said the issue with snow clearing isn't just about cost, it's about quality of service.