The Government of Canada Unveils Code of Practice to Guide Environmental Management of Road Salts and Keep Roads Safe

OTTAWA, April 5, 2004 - The Minister of the Environment, David Anderson, made the following statement today on the Government of Canada’s Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts:

“I am pleased to share with provinces, territories, municipalities and others who are responsible for public roads our Code of Practice for the Environmental Management of Road Salts. It is the result of two years of working with road authorities, the salt industry, environmental organizations and other stakeholders to develop a tool that will assist communities in protecting their environment while continuing to keep roads safe.

On average, in Canada, we use more than five million tonnes of road salts annually to keep our roads clear of ice and snow, and to keep Canadians safe. Science has shown that road salts in high concentrations pose a serious threat to animals, plants and aquatic environments around storage and disposals sites and through runoff into streams and rivers.

The experiences of some municipalities, the work of the Transportation Association of Canada, and developments in technology and knowledge have shown us that we can reduce this damage. The Code of Practice encourages those who manage roadways to develop salt management plans so that road salts can be used more efficiently and effectively, and with less environmental harm.

By releasing the Code of Practice now, we hope to give road authorities a head start on developing salt management plans for the coming year. I am very proud of this Code. It is an example of how the federal government can work with provinces, territories and municipalities in a way that produces real results for Canadians. It also demonstrates how the Canadian Environmental Protection Act allows us to develop tools that work to manage pollutants in our soil and water. I look forward to seeing the progress that can be made using the Code of Practice to protect our environment.”

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