The Program

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for the management of aggregate resources in the province. MNR’s planning mandate is to protect mineral aggregate resources and ensure the continued availability of these resources as close to markets as possible.

The objectives of MNR’s aggregate management program are:

• to minimize adverse impacts of aggregate operations on the environment and contribute to ecological sustainability by administering the Aggregate Resources Act;
• to participate in the municipal planning process under the Planning Act to ensure that aggregate resources are protected and made available, and that existing aggregate operations are protected from incompatible land uses;
• to ensure Ontarians receive a fair return for the use of Crown-owned aggregate resources;
• and to promote aggregate resource conservation through substitution, reduction, re-using and recycling of aggregate.

The program is delivered through MNR's policy staff, field-based Aggregate Inspectors, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation (TOARC).