Ontario Faces Road Salt Shortage 2026 – Cities Ration Supplies

Ontario is facing a road salt shortage in early 2026 after an early onset of winter and record snowfall. The province's largest underground salt mine in Goderich—owned by Compass Minerals—is operating seven days a week at full capacity, yet demand outstrips supply. City of Guelph officials report November and December rainfall of 104 mm and snowfall of 30 cm, far above the average of 40 mm rain and 10 cm snow. Kitchener has also seen lower salt stock, prompting crews to adopt best‑practice de‑icing and training. Perth County struggles to replenish storage yards, while some municipalities use sand‑only or salt‑sand mixes to stretch supplies. The shortage has driven some contractors to source salt from Quebec, adding transport costs.