Salt shortage no threat to city roads this winter

Hamilton’s roads should be safe from a salt shortage this winter — but your driveways and sidewalks might not be so lucky.

The snow-clearing industry in Ontario is abuzz about a rock salt shortage that is blamed on lateseason ice storms last winter and a three-month summer strike at the world’s largest salt mine in Goderich, Ont.

A 2014 shortage left the city of Hamilton relying heavily on sand and begging neighbours to share salt late in the winter.

Soon after, the city signed a $40-million contract to lock in its supply for five years.

“We should be good to go this winter. Most of the salt we need is already sitting down at the docks (at the Port of Hamilton),” said operations manager Bob Paul, who estimated Hamilton will spread nearly 65,000 tonnes of salt in solid or brine form this winter. Municipal and provincial governments are usually the first priority for salt producers during a shortage.

But private contractors and smaller retailers are “scrambling” to find new suppliers, said Landscape Ontario executive director Tony DiGiovanni in a bulletin to members. “Salt for private contractors will probably be coming from Chile, Morocco or Egypt.”

The contractor group is urging members to buy salt early, consider mixing product with sand or alternative de-icers, like beet juice, and explain the challenge to customers ahead of time.

For residents, that means you may not want to wait until January to buy an extra bag or two of de-icer for your driveway, sidewalk or steps.

But it’s also a chance to explore more eco-friendly alternatives, says the Smart About Salt Council. The council points to the shortage as a chance for both homeowners and contractors to cut back on salt use. Check out its tips at smartaboutsalt. com/wintertips.