October 14, 2011

Ipsos Reid releases Ontario aggregate quarry survey results

KELLY LAPOINTE

staff writer

Ontarians are more likely to support a quarry if it has a green certification, revealed a recent Ipsos Reid study about responsible sourcing in the province.

Overall, 89 per cent of respondents said green certification is a “good idea”, including 93 per cent who don’t support quarries. The study was conducted by Ipsos for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) meeting in August.

“It shows that Ontario residents understand the importance of certification and understand the value of what a third party audited certification can bring,” said Nicholas Schulz, Director of Communications and Outreach with Socially and Environmentally Responsible Aggregate (SERA).

Ipsos interviewed online a sample of 855 adults living in Ontario in August for the poll.

Quarries are government regulated for safety, environmental impact, noise and truck routes. There currently is no certification process for quarry operating companies to be recognized for meeting/exceeding social and environmental best practices.

SERA released draft standards in June to set voluntary “responsible” standards for companies — higher than those currently required by the government.

Overall, 64 per cent of those surveyed said if a quarry/aggregate site was certified, they’d more likely support one in their municipality/region.

On hearing it could be a tool for government regulators to reward, recognize and leverage sites, 62 per cent of the survey respondents said they’re more likely to support a quarry/aggregate site in their municipality/region.

“They want to know that the aggregate sites in their area are actually doing the best they can do and not simply doing ‘good enough’,” said Schulz.

Though they are still in draft, SERA said some of the things their certification could entail would be sunset clauses, which would end the life of a quarry/aggregate site so when an application goes in, it’s know when operation will stop.

Schulz said they’ll use the findings of the survey to help reinforce the fact that certification is useful.

“It helps us to know that we are not the only ones who think it’s a good idea.”

The Ontario government recently announced a commitment to review the Aggregate Resources Act, which SERA says is important to establish minimum requirements for aggregate extraction in Ontario, it is also important that companies are encouraged to pursue industry best-practices that help them to secure a positive social license to operate.

“If there’s one point on which all sides can agree — environmentalists, community leaders, aggregate producers, and public officials, the existing system is not working as effectively as it could. Costly, unpredictable and protracted processes serve no one’s interests, least of all taxpayers, community groups, and job-creating enterprises,” said Michael Fenn, interim Chair of SERA.

“As a new organization developing voluntary, third party audited certification standards for the aggregate sector we have been encouraged by the wide array of industry, community, governmental and environmental leaders who share these goals and who are now working with us to make them happen quickly.”

SERA was established through a collaborative effort of Holcim (Canada) Inc. and Environmental Defence Canada, leaders in the aggregate and environmental fields, respectively.

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