City calls for legislation to help reduce use of road salt - Guelph News

The City of Guelph is calling on the province for legislative changes that would help reduce the amount of road salt being used in the winter.

City council unanimously passed a motion brought forth by Coun. Rodrigo Goller at Monday's council meeting asking the province to develop limited liability legislation aimed at easing pressures on private contractors to use road salt on private properties they maintain in the winter.

It was pointed out that the city has taken great strides to reduce the amount of road salt it uses, and continues to look at other ways to go even further.

"The city is already committed to minimal use," Goller said, adding the problem of overuse of salt is on the private sector.

The problem lies with private contractors, and to a lesser degree homeowners.

Private contractors pay significant liability premiums on their insurance as a result of a high amount of slip and fall lawsuits on private property. Thus feeling the pressure to enhance safety by using more salt on those properties.

City council wants the province to develop limited liability legislation easing pressure on private contractors.

Karen Rathwell, delegating on behalf of Water Watchers, said there is the need for change.

"Clearly what we've been doing already isn't working," Rathwell said, pointing out there are 2.2 million tonnes of salt used on Ontario roads a year.

She said salt is still needed, it's a matter of minimizing it.

Mayor Cam Guthrie, who previously worked in the insurance field for 16 years, called the motion a "very relevant advocacy piece."

He said liability costs to private contractors are "exorbitant" as soon as those contractors indicate they are doing snow removal.

The motion in its entirety :

1. The City of Guelph urges the province of Ontario to work urgently with key stakeholders to develop limited liability legislation, including enforceable contractor training and a single set of provincially-endorsed standard BMPs for snow and ice management; and

2. The City of Guelph urges the province of Ontario to create and fund an expert stakeholder advisory committee, including representatives from the disability community, to advise the province and municipalities on the best courses of action to protect freshwater ecosystems and drinking water from the impacts of salt pollution; and

3. The City of Guelph commits to continuing to reduce the use of road salt as much as possible while meeting local service levels and maintaining safety on roads and sidewalks; and

4. That this resolution and the attached Memo be sent to all municipalities in Wellington County, the Grand River Conservation Authority, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), local MPPs, Conservation Ontario, the Minister of Environment Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Attorney General, and the Premier.