The provincial government is anticipating a significant increase in its road salt budget next year.

The entire province is grappling with a salt shortage right now as suppliers have little-to-none left after what has been a particularly snowy and stormy winter.

Transportation minister Barry Petten says they still have supply and crews are doing fine for now, but they have had to dig into their stockpile of extra salt that usually carries over from one year to the next.

For next year, Petten says they will need to replenish those stockpiles in addition to their usual purchase to last through the winter.

He says they spent $35-million on salt this year, and he wouldn’t be surprised if that number grows to $45-million or $50-million next year as they rebuild their supply. “It’s a significant hit to the books, but it’s a necessity obviously.”