Road salt controversy

NRU
Jan. 28, 2015

A recent Superior Court ruling awarded more than $100,000 to an Ontario farmer who claimed damages caused by the local municipality’s use of road salt. Joseph and Evelyn Steadman sued the County of Lambton claiming that the road salt had damaged their crops and lowered the value of their farmland.

Ontario Good Roads Association executive director Joe Tiernay warns that this case can set a precedent for similar lawsuits in other Ontario municipalities. A five- year study conducted by Environment Canada on the effect of road salt concluded in 2012 that “road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment.” Ontario Good Roads Association claims that there is currently no viable alternative to road salt that is better for the environment.