Anger over quarry rule changes
Image source: Damian Christie, 2018. Quarrymagazine.com.
City staff are fuming over a Ford government re-write of the rules governing quarrying and related aggregate transportation. The provincial plans emerged from a “summit” last March to which the city was not invited. And once again the changes have not been spelled out in sufficient detail to determine their impacts, although they have won the endorsement of the aggregate industry association.
The potential changes could affect water tables, trucking routes and where quarries could expand. Self-filing procedures and elimination of licensing for some “low risk” activities are also proposed.
City planning staff are recommending submission of comments to the province that include some barely diplomatic expressions of frustration in response to a notice posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario.
“A pattern of provincial engagement (e.g. limited or targeted public consultation, short commenting periods, vague Act regulation or Plan changes, uncertainty as to the number of opportunities to comment, and posting changes on ERO followed by a short effective date between posting and coming into effect) continues,” declares the report that staff are recommending be sent to Queen’s Park.
“There is a commitment to consult further on any regulatory changes but there are no details as to when or how this consultation will take place or the length of time municipalities will be given to make comments on any proposed changes.”
The proposed amendments to Aggregate Resources Act (ARA) have just a 45-day commenting period. Changes of concern to Hamilton and other municipalities include no longer requiring “agreements between municipalities and aggregate producers regarding aggregate haulage”. That could mean heavy trucks damaging city roads and travelling along unwelcome routes although the city could seek voluntary agreements with the aggregate operators.
The provincial notice also promises “a more robust application process for existing operators that want to expand to extract aggregate within the water table” while achieving “additional protection of water resources”. Hamilton staff applaud the latter promise but worry that the usual description for quarrying is “above or below the water table” rather than “within”, so are asking for provincial clarification.
The Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association has hailed the proposed provincial changes as “reducing red tape and addressing many of the inefficiencies that weigh down the industry.” On the day it was released, the OSSGA tweeted its support: “It demonstrates that this government is listening to industry and we’re moving on matters that will make it easier to do business in Ontario. The Minister and his staff understand the importance of aggregate – without it nothing gets built!”
In January OSSGA released its Untangling Red Tape report that called on the Ford government to make changes to the Aggregate Resources Act. It criticized changes made by the previous Liberal government after a wide ranging public consultation process.
In February the provincial minister of natural resources and forestry announced a summit on aggregate reform, but its location wasn’t announced until a few days before it occurred. Wellington Water Watchers petitioned to have the summit opened. The citizens’ coalition Gravel Watch Ontario says it repeatedly asked to attend, but got no response.
When the summit took place in Caledon on March 29 with about 70 attendees, Gravel Watch held a picket outside to protest. “The people of Ontario value clean air and water, our environment and our farmland,” Caledon resident Cheryl Conners told the media. “We will not stand by quietly why they continue their secret assault on the environment to the benefit of their rich industry friends.”
The March summit is listed as the only “public consultation opportunities” that guided the new provincial proposals. Further comments can be submitted to the Environmental Registry until November 5.
