A harsh start to winter has pushed road salt demand higher than usual across Ontario, prompting warnings of potential shortages in some communities — but officials in Windsor-Essex say local supplies remain stable for now. City of Windsor executive director of operations Stacey McGuire said crews were forced to use significantly more salt early in the season, after winter weather arrived ahead of schedule. “In November and December of this [winter], we used about three times as much road salt compared to last [winter],” McGuire said. Windsor’s proximity to the Windsor Salt mine has helped buffer the city from the supply challenges being reported elsewhere in the province. “They are our supplier, which really positions Windsor — and the surrounding municipalities — well in terms of supply,” McGuire said. “We’ve got a mine right here… that really does afford us some luxuries that other municipalities that are further away from the source don’t have.” McGuire said city staff have been closely monitoring salt levels and reordering early to keep both municipal salt domes — at Crawford Yard and the Environmental Services Yard — well stocked. So far, she said Windsor has not experienced any delivery delays and does not anticipate an impact to service levels. Essex County officials echo that assessment. Speaking with AM800’s Mornings with Mike and Meg, county maintenance and operations manager Jeremy Kreuger said the county entered winter well prepared. “We always load up at the beginning of winter, and we’re fortunate to have five domes spread throughout the county,” Kreuger said. “So, we load it up before Christmas and we’re still doing well.” That said, Kreuger acknowledged salt usage has surged. “We’re using a lot more than we have on an average year,” he said. “November, we were double. December, we were up 248 per cent.” Kreuger added that while the county hasn’t been cut off from supply, it has been asked to reduce usage where possible, relying on strategies like pre-treating roads ahead of freezing rain and prioritizing plowing before salting during snow events. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent also said it remains in a stable position. In a statement to CTV News, officials said they are “currently in a good place with our salt levels” and are working with their contractor to maintain supply throughout the winter season. Budget documents tied to Windsor’s proposed 2026 operating plan show the city typically uses about 15,000 tonnes of salt per year. After an early surge this winter, Windsor has already used roughly 6,000 tonnes. The city is planning to spend about $55,000 more on salt and brine in 2026, while winter road maintenance costs reached approximately $6.2 million in 2025, covering salt, plowing, and contracted services. For now, local officials say there’s no reason for residents to worry — but much will depend on how the rest of winter unfolds.
