MHCA seeks regional collaboration, and clarity on municipal decision-making
The MHCA has called for greater clarity, transparency and consistency in the application and processes around municipal decisions regarding aggregate pits and quarries.
In a submission to the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region’s consultation process for the capital region plan, the association has detailed aggregate producers’ experiences with the regulatory regime and the decision-making by municipalities concerning applications for pits and quarries.
The submission on the WMR’s draft Plan 2050 notes that there have been improvements under the amendments to the provincial Planning Act, but that the process followed by municipalities still requires improvements.
Among the experiences of the producers, has been
- Local opposition is still present in some municipalities, creating considerable hurdles and opposition to applications to open or change aggregate operations
- Municipal councils face political risk in their decision-making, and some choose to defer decisions to the Municipal Board, the final route of appeal for producers
- Councils, strapped for revenues, are asked to weigh the revenue returns from allowing residential developments against permitting development of aggregate pits in the same area
- Proponents often face an organized ‘vocal minority’ that makes unsupported claims about harm to the environment or community living standard
- The provincial Municipal Board does not have sufficient resources to deal with appeals in a timely manner
“The MHCA strongly supports regional collaboration and planning, to organize investments and services that benefit residents, amplifying returns long-term to municipalities, and by extension the province and country,” the MHCA submission states.
“The value of aggregates is recognized universally, and for that reason is prioritized as a critical mineral in provincial legislation, including land use and planning.”
The MHCA noted in its submission that the WMR Plan 2050 rightly recognizes resource stewardship as a pre-eminent goal, guiding the development of regional planning and collaboration. The draft plan states:
“To maintain viable industries, protection of resource bases from incompatible land uses is critical to ensuring their ongoing access. Not only do resource lands support economic prosperity, but they are also vital to environmental stewardship and can be an important component to building a climate resilient region.”
