PUSLINCH – In the wake of an auditor general’s report that found the ministry responsible for the aggregate industry is falling short in terms of inspection and enforcing compliance with legislation, an environmental group is calling on Puslinch to take a tougher stance on operators in the township.
A value-for-money audit by the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario examining the management of aggregate resources released in December found the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), responsible for administering the Aggregate Resources Act, is “falling short in balancing its competing roles of facilitating the extraction of aggregate resources and minimizing the impacts of aggregate operations.”
Some significant observations in the report are:
- The ministry has a significant shortage of experienced aggregate inspectors
- Declining and low inspection rates
- High rates of non-compliance with charges rarely pursued by the MNRF
- MNRF did not enforce self-reporting requirements
- Fees are too low to effectively administer the program
- No processes in place to ensure sites are rehabilitated after extraction is complete
- No complete or accurate information on the supply and demand of aggregate
- Low fees for extracting virgin materials provides little incentive to use recycled aggregate
- Outdated information system made it difficult for MNRF staff to execute their duties
John McNie from the Mill Creek Stewards said in a delegation to Puslinch council Wednesday morning this report recognizes something that has always been clear in the municipality.
“The province is not properly balancing aggregate industry wants against our local municipality needs,” McNie said.
While advocating for changing legislation is an option that should be pursued, according to McNie, he said this report is a powerful tool for the municipality to take a tougher stance on local operators.
“The municipal toolbox may be small but every small use fires another shot over the industry’s bow,” McNie said.
He said this could include things such as making sure fines are levied when they can be, calling for further OPP enforcement of haul routes and to consider a dedicated staff member for aggregate affairs.
Mayor James Seeley, also the board chair for the Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario, said the organization is focused on cracking down on “liberal interpretation of site plans” which he claimed has led to aggregate from out of town being processed in Puslinch on its way to Toronto and to advocate said for TAPMO to hire an executive director.
Later in the meeting, Seeley said a TAPMO consultant will be preparing a work plan report in response to the audit.
"I look forward to that report," Seeley said.
The full auditor general report can be found here.
