July 17, 2025
Landscape Ontario calls for liability reform and regulation to tackle salt pollution
Excessive road salt is poisoning Ontario’s rivers, streams and soil — and Landscape Ontario (LO) is calling for urgent change. Through targeted advocacy, new training programs and bi-national collaboration, LO’s Snow and Ice Sector Group is leading efforts to reduce salt use, protect ecosystems and improve safety. 

Tackling salt pollution and liability reform

LO is urging the provincial government to create a regulated snow and ice management playing field that addresses safety and environmental concerns and creates a fair liability framework for all. Oversalting — often driven by fear of lawsuits and one-sided insurance arrangements — has led to long-term ecological damage, degraded infrastructure and exacerbated widespread salt shortages.

To reduce salt usage while improving safety, the association is calling for legislative changes providing limited liability protection for both contractors and property owners if these stakeholders can demonstrate compliance. Compliance involves contractors completing training and following industry-accepted practices, and owners conducting a one-time risk hazard site analysis to establish a reasonable site plan. The site plan requires removal of or written mitigation protocols to address identified hazards that adversely impact contractor activities. The plan would also establish appropriate, site-specific Levels of Service and Scope of Work.  

Several municipalities, including Toronto, Waterloo, Sudbury, Georgina and Muskoka and others have already endorsed this model.

“Ontario’s current liability framework encourages oversalting, which harms our environment and discourages responsible practices,” said Joe Salemi, CAE, executive director of LO. “We need a system that rewards good practices by all stakeholders and fosters training, accountability and sustainability.”

Strengthening industry standards through collaboration

LO has partnered with the Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA) to harmonize snow and ice management standards across Canada and the United States. Together, they have developed American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. These address the education of contractors as well as a procurement standard that includes a site evaluation tool grounded in well-established risk management practices to improve the procurement process..

This partnership is expected to produce a formal de-icer application standard and other industry guidance, with anticipated adoption by a regulator and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

New provincial training and accreditation program

As part of this broader reform effort, LO has introduced a multi-tiered training and accreditation program for snow and ice professionals. The program includes certification at all levels — from entry-level safety to advanced supervisory tasks — and features a digital training passport to track and verify credentials.The curriculum is grounded in environmental best practices, site evaluation and detailed documentation — supporting safer and more sustainable operations throughout the winter season.

To learn more about LO’s training and accreditation program for snow and ice professionals, visit our website.