Trent Lakes calls for ‘need’ to be restored as condition for aggregate extraction

from the Municipality of Trent Lakes

Bobcaygeon, ON

To all Municipalities

in the Province of Ontario

Dear Municipal Representative:

Re: Demonstrated Need for Aggregates

At the Regular Council Meeting held on May 5, 2015 the Council of the Municipality of Trent Lakes passed the following resolution:

Resolution No. R2015-279

Moved by: Councillor Raymond Seconded by: Councillor Persson

WHEREAS a primary concern for the Municipality of Trent Lakes is that due to our close proximity to the Greater Toronto Area there will be an increase in the demand for aggregates from this area resulting in an increase in the number and size of quarries in the Municipality; and

WHEREAS it is widely acknowledged that extracting aggregates from the landscape is an intrusive activity that has the potential to cause long-term impacts on publicly important environmental resources and farmland; increases in traffic, road damage and greenhouse gas emissions; and degrades the quality of life in local communities; and

WHEREAS in 2005 the Provincial Policy Statement was amended to allow aggregate producers to propose extraction sites without having to demonstrate the need for the additional supply of aggregate resources, thereby creating a barrier to comprehensive planning and favouring the protection of aggregate extraction at the expense of other provincial interests, and as a result encouraging the rapid and non-sustainable use of the resource; and

WHEREAS applications for licences under the current Aggregate Resources Act do not require proponents to demonstrate need to extract aggregate resources in a particular area;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Municipality of Trent Lakes request that the Ontario Government amend the Provincial Policy Statement and the Aggregate Resources Act to require aggregate extraction proponents to demonstrate need for the particular supply of resource proposed for extraction; and further

THAT this resolution be forwarded to the Honourable Ted McMeekin, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Honourable Bill Mauro, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Honourable Glen Murray,Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Provincial Opposition Party leaders, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Barry Devolin, MP, Laurie Scott, MPP, FCM and AMO; and further

THAT through the circulation of this resolution to all municipalities in Ontario it be requested that they adopt a similar resolution in support of the requested changes to the Provincial Policy Statement and the Aggregate Resources Act.

As per the resolution, it is requested that all municipalities in Ontario adopt a similar resolution in support of the requested changes to the Provincial Policy Statement and the Aggregate Resources Act.

Sincerely

Bob Angione,

M.P.A., B.Admin.

Municipal Clerk