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Ontario passes legislation to modernize resource management

Toronto – Ontario passed legislation May 9 intended to modernize the province’s resource extraction rules to increase environmental protections, boost competitiveness and create joband economic growth in the aggregates and mining sectors.

In a news release, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry said the Aggregate Resources and Mining Modernization Act will:

• Balance fairness for companies and local communities by updating processes for fee and royalty increases on aggregates and expanding public participation in the extraction application process
• Enhance environmental protections through clearer regulations and better oversight for aggregate companies
• Increase competitiveness in mining with online claims registration and an electronic mining lands administration system
• Minimize disruption from prospecting and mining activities on land and nearby communities.

In the release, the province said these legislative changes will boost economic growth and create jobs across the province by allowing aggregate companies and communities to continue building roads, hospitals, schools and other vital infrastructure projects, and by making it easier to prospect, register claims and conduct exploratory mining in Ontario.

The Aggregate Resources and Mining Modernization Act will make amendments to modernize both the Aggregate Resources Act and the Mining Act.

In the coming months, Ontario will consult on new regulations it says will balance economic growth and job creation with the protection of vital resources like farmland and ground water.