Scugog councillors endorse Stouffville’s call to action on salt pollution

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

SCUGOG: At their meeting, on Monday, June 2nd, Scugog councillors endorsed a resolution, from the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, aimed at addressing salt pollution and its harmful environmental effects.

The resolution, originally passed by Stouffville Council, in April, urges the Ontario government to work with stakeholders, to develop limited liability legislation and establish enforceable standards, for snow and ice management contractors.

Councillor David LeRoy, who brought forward the motion, emphasized the importance of Scugog’s endorsement. He said, the excessive use of salt is damaging freshwater ecosystems, including Lake Scugog, and reform is urgently needed. Mr. LeRoy noted, provincial liability reforms are underway, to help reduce the risk and cost of slip-and-fall claims which often lead contractors to over apply salt, as a protective measure.

“This is an issue which directly affects Scugog and the health of Lake Scugog,” said Councillor LeRoy. “We need to act responsibly and support best practices in salt management. There’s a real opportunity here, to balance environmental protection with public safety, especially with the province exploring liability reforms.”

The initiative, driven by the Snow and Ice Management Sector of Landscape Ontario, seeks to introduce a certification system for contractors, based on best management practices, with the goal of reducing salt usage and improving application efficiency.

Director of Public Works and Infrastructure Services, Grant Taylor, provided council with a staff overview for clarification. He outlined the discussions taking place with the Region of Durham, regarding the establishment of a minimum maintenance standard which would help municipalities reduce liability while promoting proper salt application.

Council members raised questions about who would be responsible for certifying, monitoring, and enforcing the new standards, and staff indicated, further guidance from the province would be needed as the initiative progresses.

The motion, seconded by Councillor Robert Rock, called for Scugog’s endorsement of the resolution, acknowledged the relevance of the issue locally, and directed, the resolution be forwarded to all Durham Region municipalities and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, in addition to those named in the original Stouffville correspondence.

“Salt pollution doesn’t stop at municipal boundaries,” added Councillor LeRoy. “It’s a shared issue which demands a coordinated, science-based response.”

With the endorsement, Scugog joins a growing number of municipalities calling on the province to take swift and meaningful action, to protect Ontario’s freshwater ecosystems from the impacts of road salt.