McGuinty says he'll look into curbing road salt use

TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says the province will look at putting the brakes on the widespread use of road salt.

McGuinty says he knows there are computerized systems that can use salt much more efficiently, but which aren't being used on 80 per cent of Ontario roads.

He says the province will have to look at how much it would cost to force municipalities to use the latest systems available.

But he says a hefty price tag won't stand in the way of doing what's best for the environment.

The province currently exempts road salt from its environmental protection laws even though it has been called `toxic' to plants and animals.

In an annual report released yesterday, Ontario's environmental commissioner called on the Liberals to curb road salt use on the province's roads.