by Rural Ontario Institute
21. October 2011 09:39
In rural Ontario, especially on the fringe of the GTA, there are a series of long battles going on. The OMB is hearing the arguments of aggregate proponents seeking new pit licences and the counter-arguments of local citizens' groups and provincial environmental organizations. Water resources, farmland, wetlands and woodlands are at stake. The costs of road building and construction are at stake. A recent article draws attention to the possibility that the opposing sides might actually be able to find some compromise and help avoid more of the costly and frustrating processes of pitting lawyers and experts against one another. A well-balanced article by Tim Shuff in the recent issue of In The Hills “Can Gravel Be Green” describes an interesting agreement and the creation of the Socially and Environmentally Responsible Aggregate (SERA) organization to certify aggregate operations following more responsible practices. http://www.inthehills.ca/2011/09/current/green-gravel/
The Rural Ontario Institute is pleased to be a co-sponsor of an upcoming seminar with the Canadian Urban Institute, SERA and the Canada Green Building Council on October 27, 2011 in Brampton to explore how Ontario can use more recycled aggregate and thereby avoid the impacts of extracting and transporting aggregate. Other countries use a lower proportion of “virgin” aggregate than we now use – why aren't we? How do we get there from here so that our rural environment can suffer less degradation? Register here. https://canurb.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=68
Norman Ragetlie, Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement