Recommendations

The overall goal of A Low Salt Diet for Ontario’s Roads and Rivers is to encourage law reform in Ontario in order to prevent chronic damage to the ecosystem and built infrastructure from road salts storage, application and snow disposal activities. To this end, A Low Salt Diet for Ontario’s Roads and Rivers presents six recommendations. Each recommendation is aimed at improving the regulatory and policy framework regarding road salts management and ultimately ensuring that the full costs associated with road salts use are being taken into account in order to achieve the appropriate balance between ecosystem protection and winter road maintenance.

Recommendation 1

That Environmental Protection Act – Classes of Contaminants – Exemptions, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 339 be immediately revoked.

Recommendation 2

That the Ontario Ministry of the Environment immediately implement a phased-in mandatory road salts management regime requiring all road authorities to seek a Certificate of Approval under the Environmental Protection Act for road salts storage, application or snow disposal in Ontario.

Recommendation 3

That Ontario’s Bill 43 (the proposed Clean Water Act) require that all drinking water source protection plans address the issue of road salts, regardless of the threat assessment on current and potential drinking water sources, until such time as the permit system can be implemented.

Recommendation 4

That the Ontario government institute an educational and regulatory program to reduce the incidence of accidents on winter roads. Specifically, mandatory reductions in speed limits during winter conditions and mandatory requirements for snow tires are recommended.

Recommendation 5

That road salts be immediately listed on Schedule 1 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

Recommendation 6

That the federal government pursue changes to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement that would require proper management of road salts use throughout the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem.