Road Salts are used in Canada as de-icing and anti-icing chemicals for winter road maintenance, with some use as summer dust suppressants.

A comprehensive five-year scientific assessment by Environment Canada determined that in sufficient concentrations, road salts pose a risk to plants, animals and the aquatic environment (Assessment Report - Road Salts). A Risk Management Strategy for Road Salts was subsequently developed to outline the measures that Environment Canada proposes in order to manage the risks associated with road salts.

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Government of Canada published a Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts on April 3, 2004. The Code is designed to help municipalities and other road authorities better manage their use of road salts in a way that reduces harm they cause to the environment while maintaining road safety.

The Code of Practice was developed in consultation with a Multistakeholder Working Group for Road Salts. It recommends that road authorities prepare salt management plans that identify actions they will take to improve their practices in salt storage, general use on roads and snow disposal.

The Government of Canada is not banning the use of road salts or proposing any measures that would compromise or reduce road safety.

Explore the links on this page for more information on how the Government of Canada is taking steps to reduce the risk of road salt to the environment, while keeping Canadian roads safe.