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Policy Id:
SPR/SPA:
Risk:
SAL-8
Central Lake Ontario, Credit Valley, Toronto
Significant
Implementing Body
Legal Effect
Policy Tool
Threat Type
Status
Comment
MECP - Source Protection
Strategic
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented: Policy outcome(s) evaluated - No further action(s) required
The ministry has reviewed and considered the policy. The ministry remains committed to working with all partners and other levels of government to support the protection of the natural environment and the well-being of the people of Ontario. This includes investing and collaborating in the areas of monitoring, research and innovation, as well as advancing practices that minimize road salt impacts on the environment without compromising public safety during the winter months. The ministry provides advice through its Guidelines on Snow Disposal and De-icing Operations in Ontario (2011) which encourage the sensible and conservative use of road salt. In addition, MECP works with many partners including conservation authorities, the winter maintenance sector, Smart About Salt Council, and road authorities like municipalities and the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), to promote best management practices, operator training and certification, and road salt alternatives. Since 2018, under the Great Lakes Program and Lake Simcoe Program, the ministry has invested over $1.4M in 11 projects that address chloride monitoring and excess road salt (understanding chloride toxicity, patterns and contributions from urbanized watersheds, groundwater conveyance, and the influence of stormwater measures), including projects that encourage the adoption of sustainable salt management practices on private parking lots, roads, and sidewalks. Furthermore, the 2021 Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health includes commitments by Canada and Ontario to reduce road salt entering the Great Lakes including investment in new science, monitoring and actions to understand the impacts of road salt use. Since 2013, the ministry has supported the Smart About Salt Council to modernize their winter maintenance professional certification program including training on the use of best management practices. The ministry continues to provide a Community of Practice forum to enable and encourage the sharing of information and best management practices among risk management officials, source protection committees, and authorities. Source protection committees and authorities can also refer to materials on the Ministry of Transportation's website (https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-we-clear-ontarios-highways-winter) related to their Salt Management Plan (previously provided to all source protection authorities) and other applicable best management practices.
Amaranth Township of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Education and outreach is promoted through the Township's social media account and Township's website.
Caledon Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Dufferin, County of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
No response required/not applicable
This would likely be a lower tier implemented program.
Durham, Regional Municipality of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
No response required/not applicable
No significant road salt threats.
East Garafraxa Township of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Education and outreach is promoted through the Township's social media account and Township's website.
Erin Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
No response required/not applicable
This policy does not currently apply.
Halton Hills Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Halton, Regional Municipality of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
King Township of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Mono Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
In progress/some progress made
ongoing development of materials with RMO and SPAs
Orangeville Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Peel, Regional Municipality of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Uxbridge Township of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Vaughan City of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Wellington, County of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
No response required/not applicable
This policy does not currently apply.
Whitchurch-Stouffville Town of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
York, Regional Municipality of - (Municipality)
Conform with
Education / Outreach
Future & Existing
Implemented
Policy Text:
The municipality shall deliver education and outreach materials and programs where the application, handling and storage of road salt is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat, targeted towards:
a) owners/tenants of residences and small businesses where the application, handling and storage of road salt (existing, future) is, or would be, a significant drinking water threat about the impact of salt on municipal drinking water and what they can do to reduce their use of salt to ensure that the activity ceases to be or does not become a significant drinking water threat; and
b) commercial and industrial sectors to address the importance of source protection planning and the impacts of road salt on drinking water sources, with the key message being responsible salt storage and application, and the use of contemporary technology; in any of the following areas:
WHPA-A (existing, future); or
WHPA-B (VS = 10) (existing, future); or
WHPA-E (VS = 9) (existing, future); or
the remainder of an Issue Contributing Area for Sodium or Chloride (existing, future).
Where appropriate education and outreach materials prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks are available, the municipality shall deliver those materials.
Timelines:
T-10: Education and outreach (materials, programs, etc.) shall be developed and implemented within 2 years from the date the Source Protection Plan takes effect.
Monitoring Text:
MON-1: The municipality or planning approval authority shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report equivalent to s. 65 of O. Reg. 287/07 under the Clean Water Act, 2006 to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Where applicable, municipal planning authorities shall provide a copy of the notice of adoption of amendments to official plans and/or zoning by laws. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.
MON-4: The provincial ministry shall, by February 1 of each year, prepare and submit a report to the Source Protection Authority on the actions taken in the previous calendar year to achieve the outcomes of the source protection policy. Reporting shall include information related to the effectiveness of the policies in ensuring a threat ceases to be, or does not become significant, and any actions required to respond to a drinking water threat during the reporting period.
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