The Ministry of Natural Resources manages aggregate resources in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation.
MNR's Role
The ministry’s role includes:
- Developing and maintaining legislation and policy governing the management of aggregate resources in the province of Ontario
- Processing applications for new licences and permits, as well as requests for changes to existing approvals such as transfers and site plan amendments
- Reviewing applications and amendment requests with respect to the protection of natural heritage features, and ensuring that adverse impacts of aggregate operations on the environment are minimized
- Conducting inspections of aggregate operations and responding to complaints, in order to ensure that licensees and permittees are complying with the Aggregate Resources Act, their licence/permit conditions, and their site plan
- Ensuring that progressive and final rehabilitation are being carried out
- Undertaking compliance and enforcement activities under the Aggregate Resources Act, such as suspension notices, rehabilitation orders, revocations and charges, when licensees and permittees are not in compliance
- Participating in the municipal planning process to ensure that aggregate resources are protected and made available, consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement
MTO's Role
Under the Aggregate Resources Act, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has the authority to issue and manage wayside permits and aggregate permits, where the aggregate is required for provincial road projects. This includes:
- Processing applications for aggregate permits, wayside permits, and amendments to site plans or conditions
- Conducting inspections of aggregate operations to ensure they are in compliance with the Aggregate Resources Act, the site plan and the conditions of the permit, and that rehabilitation is being carried out
- Undertaking compliance activities under the Aggregate Resources Act, such as suspension notices and rehabilitation orders.
MNDM's Role
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines (MNDM) is responsible for identifying and mapping significant mineral aggregate resources.
Through aggregate resources inventory papers, known as ARIPs, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines provides geological information and an assessment of aggregate resources to help prepare planning strategies and official plans. These reports include an assessment of sand, gravel and crushed stone resources for selected regions of Ontario.
TOARC's Role
The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation and the Aggregate Resources Trust were formed in 1997. The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation, through an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources, acts as Trustee of the Aggregate Resources Trust.
The responsibilities of the Aggregate Resources Trust include:
- managing the Abandoned Pits and Quarries Rehabilitation Fund
- collecting and disbursing aggregate fees and royalties
- conducting research and education on aggregate resource management issues, including rehabilitation
- rehabilitating of pits and quarries where licences or permits are revoked by Ministry of Natural Resources
- publishing summaries of annual production statistics for licences, aggregate permits and wayside permits.
- The Aggregate Resources Act requires that an annual report on the financial affairs of the Aggregate Resources Trust be submitted to the Minister of Natural Resources. The Minister of Natural Resources must submit the report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council and table the report in the Legislative Assembly. The report includes audited financial statements of the Aggregate Resources Trust.
The Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association is the sole shareholder of the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation. The Board of Directors of the corporation consists of:
- four representatives of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
- one representative of the Conservation Council of Ontario
- one industry representative who is not a member of the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
- one representative of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario
- one non-voting representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
