Waterloo spearheading motion on over using road salt

Spring is well underway around Ontario, allowing the Region of Waterloo the opportunity to look back at the winter season and find places where it can improve maintenance operations.

Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe is hoping the region can become leaders in the fight against pollution caused by road salt, bringing forward a motion that would urge the province to hold polluters accountable.

According to Claire Malcolmson of the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition, road salt pollution could lead to the loss of clean drinking water in some parts of the province.

“In Ontario, we are growing the road network enormously, or that’s what the current government would like to do. That is absolutely going to add more salt to the environment, so we have to get ahead of this or we will have huge, expensive problems to deal with down the road,” said Malcolmson at a committee meeting on Tuesday.

McCabe’s motion would urge the provincial government to create enforceable training and standards for contractors who currently oversalt roadways and walkways to avoid slips, falls, and subsequent lawsuits. Through her motion, she would also be pushing the province to create an advisory committee focused on protecting freshwater ecosystems and drinking water from the effects of salt pollution.

According to Malcolmson, Ontario is responsible for nearly half of the 5 million tonnes of road salt applied across Canada.

Also at the Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Matt Rodrigues introduced a motion that would have staff review winter maintenance operations in preparation for another snowy winter next season.

The winter season that just passed was one of the snowiest Waterloo Region has experienced in the 21st century, with nearly 200 cm of snowfall by the end of February.

Through review, Rodrigues is hoping the region can identify where they can improve winter maintenance programs and policies ahead of the 2026 budgeting process.

Both motions will come before regional council.