Take a look at this video, he goes over why this is actually possible: https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU

Essentially if you have a society that actually focuses on alternative transportation; it gets prioritized. Bike rides are the norm and don't feel like a chore, so when it's cold out people still reach for their bikes. Coupled with the municipality clearing bike paths BEFORE roads and you have the infrastructure to support it.

In many cities bikes and motorcycles are illegal to drive during winter months. Just looking outside where I am living tells me the law is a no-brainer.

Better transport for sure. And its just a few days out of the year you may be out in "two feet of fresh snow." However proper winter gear and caution can still be manageable for a lot of folks even in the few days of harshest of conditions like the one you mentioned.

Fat bike tires, or winter studded tires can help in the case of severe winter weather. Dressing in good layers. Advocating for people biking conditions in your city.

The money you save will be able to be put into better gear, and maybe a Canadian E-Bike. And there is also the lives you are saving to thank yourself for. Including your own health with free exercise -- you may be able to cancel your gym membership.

Your city may likely have bike trails worth exploring for alternative safe and quicker routes. And a good durable bike would be a good way to go explore them.

It might even save you time to get to work.

I spent over a year biking as my primary transport (commuting, groceries, hauling compost, etc) with -30C days in the winter just to see if I could go without my truck. Proper gear and a bit of forethought makes weather a non-issue. We're Canadians, get used to the cold again, folks. Get yourwelf some proper Helly Hansen or similar rain gear (WR is rated in mm on good gear), some neoprene over the handlebar gauntlets for cold/gale rain days (got mine for $15 from aliexpress) and get after it.

Big dumps of snow are annoying, but easily handled if the city/town actually invests in proper bike path infrastructure and snow clearing equipment instead of relegating us to the gutters.

Those little sidewalk snowplows/throwers handle bike paths easily and they are plowed here before I wake up to go to work (plow drivers work at night here so the roads and sidewalks are done for the AM).

Most of the complaints against biking in Canada are easily handled with a little planning and forethought. But the complaints are continually pushed by the auto lobby so 🤷‍♂️ doesn't really matter if they have a weak basis, most people will just regurgitate it without ever trying for themselves

Keeping it in Canada would be great, but expensive AF to build across that part of Ontario, which is essentially all hills and water.

Yes: with a good rail link and rolling petrol stock.