Revive lobby against dormant quarry pit

Letter to the Editor:

In Ontario, the government’s support for the aggregate (gravel and quarry) industry, while intended to support construction, has, in some cases, led to environmental damage and community conflict. A report by the Ontario Auditor General’s office highlighted issues with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) enforcement of the Aggregate Resources Act, finding that operators often evade consequences for non-compliance. This has resulted in widespread environmental degradation and strained relationships between the industry and communities.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Weak Enforcement: The Auditor General’s report found the MNRF to be ill-equipped to handle the expansion of aggregate operations, and that it often fails to enforce the Aggregate Resources Act.
Environmental Impact: Gravel pits and quarries can negatively impact farmland, groundwater, and ecosystems, leading to concerns about habitat loss and species at risk, according to the CBC.
Community Concerns: Residents near gravel pits have raised concerns about noise, dust, and truck traffic, and have voiced worries about the long-term impact on property values and quality of life.
Rehabilitation Issues: There are concerns about the cost and effectiveness of rehabilitating worked-out pits and quarries.
Lack of Transparency: The CBC reports that the province has granted licenses for aggregate extraction at levels far exceeding actual need, raising questions about the long-term planning and sustainability of the industry.
Calls for Moratorium: A coalition of community groups is calling for a moratorium on new gravel pits and quarries, citing the need to protect farmland, groundwater, and the environment.
“Grandfathered” Pits: Many pits and quarries were established before the current legislation and don’t have the same rehabilitation requirements, creating long-term problems.

Ontario’s gravel and quarry industry is vital for construction, but in Prince Edward County—and across the province—it’s often managed in ways that damage the environment, divide communities, and erode public trust.

The Ontario Auditor General’s 2023 report found thousands of licensed aggregate sites dormant, unrepaired, and unregulated. Fewer than 1% of inspections result in enforcement. Rehabilitation is chronically delayed, while operators carry on with minimal oversight. PEC knows this story. We fought Pit #626241, winning Ontario Land Tribunal conditions to protect groundwater, but only after PEC Council unanimously supported its coming to life.

Key takeaways were:

Bottom of the pit is set at 86 metres above sea level.
Monitoring wells set to measure and log water levels.
Should the water levels exceed 86 metres, adjustments will need to be made to bottom-of-pit water level.
Adaptive Management Plan to Ensure Ground Water Separation.
Turtle Exclusion Fencing.

Now, Pit #2907 on Ridge Road—long dormant and missing its original site plan—is being revived. MNRF still lists it as authorized for below-water-table extraction, yet no evidence of such approval exists. Without transparency, this risks harm to the aquifer that supplies many of our homes and farms.

We accept that development needs materials, but “needed” doesn’t mean “unlimited.” Old, poorly documented licences should not be revived without public notice, full review, and environmental safeguards.

Other Ontario communities—Caledon, Puslinch, Wellington County—have shown that strong, organized public action can change the outcome.

What You Can Do:
If you care about PEC’s water, farmland, and quality of life, here’s how to help:

Attend council meetings when pits or quarries are on the agenda — and speak.
Write to your councillor and demand they oppose any below-water-table approvals without full public review.
File formal objections during any licence or site plan amendment notice period.
Share information with neighbours and on social media so no one is caught off guard.
Join with others — collective voices carry more weight at the local and provincial level.

I have been lobbying against Pit #2907 being grandfathered into existence again for the past two years and do not seem to have made much progress. It seems the MNRF is actually helping the new owner work through getting re-licensed and potentially below the water line, with no indication that they are going to involve the public.

If we don’t demand balance now, it will be decided for us—by those whose only stake is in what they can take.

John McKinnon
Prince Edward County

County evaluates pits and quarries, council approves recommendations

Ridge Road aggregate pit concerns back to council Tuesday