Weeks of heavy snowfall and repeated bouts of freezing rain across Ontario have kept homeowners and businesses busy clearing walkways and reducing slip hazards. However, ongoing winter weather has also revealed a growing problem: a shortage of road salt that is forcing many to consider alternative ice-control options.
Private contractors across the province are reporting limited availability of road salt just as peak winter conditions arrive. Draglam Salt, which operates the world’s largest salt mine in Goderich beneath Lake Huron, has warned that frequent storms have significantly depleted both bulk and bagged supplies. The company says sustained demand has strained the local market.
Supply pressures are also affecting the Windsor Salt Mine, now owned by Stone Canyon Industries Holdings Inc., which has faced challenges keeping pace with demand. In a 2021 CBC report, Windsor Salt indicated its existing reserves could be exhausted within five to ten years and sought approval to access additional deposits.
Environment Canada estimates that roughly five million tonnes of road salt are used annually across Canada to keep roads and sidewalks safe. These de-icing products typically contain sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride, which work by lowering water’s freezing point to prevent ice formation.