Winter in Toronto means two things: icy roads that need salt and cosy homes heated by natural gas. Both come with a terrible environmental cost so high that critics want the city to do something about it and do it right now.
Road salt and natural gas seem like everyday essentials, but the negative environmental impacts are piling up.
Getting salty
Each winter, Ontario uses about three to five million tonnes of road salt — and although this may improve slippery conditions, Don Jackson, a professor at the University of Toronto’s department of ecology & evolutionary biology, shines a light on the hidden perils of doing this.
“Vegetation, particularly trees along roadways, faces salt-induced damage, resulting in dieback and browning of foliage,” explained Jackson. “And the environmental effects stretch far beyond winter.”
Recent research has highlighted a concerning rise in salt buildup across the waterways of the Great Lakes. Unlike other pollutants, salt doesn’t get absorbed by plants or soil or even get filtered out in waste water treatment. Instead, it builds up in water sources. This excessive saltiness, particularly noticeable in urban creeks and rivers, goes way beyond what’s safe for freshwater creatures and is disrupting the lives of fish, turtles and frogs. Moreover, this doesn’t just pose environmental hazards but also has a negative impact on health.
“Reducing road salt usage is pivotal. Appropriate application methods, such as using brine in advance of storms or undergoing professional training for commercial application, can significantly minimize excessive usage,” explained Jackson. “[And on an individual level], if you’re dealing with a typical driveway, the amount of salt you need is equivalent to a small coffee cup.”
Say no to natural gas
Another environmental battle is going on this winter when it comes to Toronto’s use of natural gas. Jack Gibbons, chair at the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, is a strong advocate for cleaner energy and is drawing attention to the plans for expansion of fossil gas power plants in Ontario, but specifically the Portlands.
The Ontario government promised the gas plant, which was opposed by locals and city council, would only run during peak energy demand hours. However, recent data from the summer shows that it was operating for 21 hours a day. According to a further investigation, it wasn’t the only one. The Halton Hills Generating Station, Goreway Power Station in Brampton and the three gas plants in the GTA ran for more than 14 hours per day, throughout the year.
That’s why Gibbons and his team are loudly ringing alarm bells over the Ford government’s ambitious plan to catapult gas plant output by an astonishing 700 per cent by 2043.
“[This proposal is] taking us in absolutely the wrong direction. When the world is on fire, the last thing we should be doing is expanding the size of the Portland gas plant and producing more dirty gas,” said Gibbons. “It will damage our climate, it will lead to more asthma attacks for Toronto residents, and it’s also unnecessary. We’ve got much cleaner and lower cost options.”
These alternatives, according to Gibbons, include strategic investments in energy efficiency and innovative technologies, which have the potential to save $500 million annually. Specifically, Gibbons said this could be the practice of shifting electricity usage away from peak hours, exploring imports of affordable water power from Quebec and maximizing Ontario’s wind and solar energy.
However, both Jackson and Gibbons echo a resounding call for immediate change. Jackson emphasized the importance of action, advocating for reduced personal usage and using alternatives like sand or fresh cat litter instead of salt. He also stressed the importance of behavioral adjustments, such as modifying driving practices and adopting snow tires, to lower the need for excessive road salt, which also helps reduce the amount of rust cars experience.
“It’s a long-term issue that demands immediate attention,” said Jackson. “While road salt dissolves in water, reducing its application rates is key. Over time, natural dilution through rainfall and snowmelt can help improve salt concentrations.”
As for what to do about the province’s usage of fossil fuels, Gibbons said people should contact local MPPs.
“You should be asking them to strongly oppose building new gas-fired power plants and to strongly support wind and solar energy,” said Gibbons. “If we want to protect our climate, if we want to protect public health, if we want to reduce electricity bills, we should be pursuing wind and solar energy, but we’re not. That’s the key message here.”