In (most?all?) of BC winter tires are required by law, and salting the roads is illegal due to the horrific damage the run off does to the environment.

You mean to tell me dumping literal truck loads of salt into the water table is a bad thing? Why does everything that works well have terrible consequences.

This is not true, winter tires are only mandated on some highways. Winter tires are not required by law throughout the entire lower mainland which is where most of the BC population is.

Does BC allow chains instead of winter tires? Oregon does for cars and light trucks. WA seems to be more of a free for all but also tends to completely shut down their passes more often than Oregon does.

in ottawa, and most of ontario, they lay down so much road salt you would think they're trying to brine the pavement... it's disgusting, i wish we'd follow the leads of AB & BC.