WHEREAS the use of road salt is causing traffic accidents as a result of wildlife consuming the salt on the highways;AND WHEREAS wildlife consuming salt on highways are resulting in accidents causing significant property damage and loss of life;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties urge the Government of Alberta to use a substance that is cost-effective and does not attract animals for removing ice from the highways in areas with a high incidence of animal/vehicle accidents.

The use of de-icing agents is an important component when utilizing strategies to keep roadways open and safe during the winter and to minimize traffic accidents, injuries, and mortality under icy and snowy conditions.Road salts are used for de-icing and anti-icing winter road maintenance, with some use as summer dust suppressants. Road salts can, however, attract animals to the highways, resulting in accidents causing significant property damage and loss of life. The use of a non-animal attracting substance, such as potash, could be used in areas with a high incidence of animal/vehicle accidents to minimize the hazard created from wildlife consuming salt on highways.During the 2001/2002 winter season, Woodlands County experienced a large number of highway accidents that resulted in property damage and loss of life to vehicle occupants.

The AAMDC has no resolutions currently in effect with respect to this issue. A similar resolution (#32-02F) calling on the provincial government to use an ‘environmentally-friendly non-animal attracting product for removing ice from provincial highways’ was defeated by delegates to the 2002 Fall Convention.