Standards Council. The Cornerstone. The latest industry-supported voluntary standards break new ground for the aggregate industry.

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1 The Cornerstone Standards Council The latest industry-supported voluntary standards break new ground for the aggregate industry By Treena Hein Former AFO members visit James Dick Construction Limited in Caledon in AVENUES

2 In July 2012, a new and exciting national initiative within the Canadian aggregate and road-building industry was born, and 2013 is sure to mark further progress with its ambitious goals. The Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC) is a unique organization that encourages the use of responsibly-sourced road-building and construction materials through the creation of world-class voluntary certification standards. The CSC was founded through a merger between the Aggregate Forum of Ontario (AFO) and Socially and Environmentally Responsible Aggregates (SERA), which were both not-for-profit organizations focused on developing a voluntary certification system for the aggregate industry in Ontario. The motivation for the merger was to have one initiative instead of two similar initiatives competing for scarce resources and people s time, and everyone involved agreed that it was the right course, notes CSC executive director Lorne Johnson. Prior to joining CSC, Johnson led the development of regional and national corporate social responsibility standards for the forest industry through the Forest Stewardship Council, and more recently served as the co-executive director of the secretariat overseeing the implementation of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. groups, governments, First Nations and aggregate purchasers. In the coming months, CSC s Standards Development Panel (SDP) will release a first draft followed by a 60-day consultation period during which stakeholders will be invited to provide input. Field tests of the Standards will also occur and, after that point, the SDP will reconvene and create a second draft, followed by a final consultation period in the spring/summer of Over time, the Standards will be revised, says Johnson, but our first goal is to create solid and workable standards and to get them in use as quickly as possible, and then modify as needed following an initial implementation phase. The CSC is also working on developing a credible and cost-effective certification verification system, as well as designing a business model that will eventually allow the organization to cover its ongoing operating costs from generated revenue. Sources of operational income could include membership fees, certification fees and/or logo use. Ontario will be the first province to benefit from improved planning, operation and rehabilitation of the stone, sand and gravel that the CSC certification process will encourage Tour of the Lafarge Mono Mills site by former AFO members AFO and SERA had complementary strengths and these have all been kept, Johnson notes. AFO had leveraged sector knowledge and industry engagement to work on the design of a credible certification system, and SERA had a Standards Development Panel that had created draft standards and a standards development process. The CSC will continue the mission of both groups, working collaboratively with all stakeholders, Johnson explains, including industry leaders, environmental organizations, community AVENUES 11

3 CSC newsletter To ensure that stakeholders have the most up-to-date information on its work, the Cornerstone Standards Council (CSC) has created an electronic newsletter. Over the coming months, this is where important notices will be posted. To receive this newsletter, visit. All options are on the table, Johnson explains. The Standards Panel is taking the time that s needed to properly create something that is very effective for everyone involved, and we are following suit in that we are not rushing ourselves in examining various avenues. There is no silver bullet for revenue generation there will need to be a diversity of sources to support the CSC s operation. Both the CSC Board and SDP are balanced in terms of represented viewpoints and interests. It s a global best practice to pull together a very diverse group so that discussions will be wellbalanced and robust, says Johnson. The 16-member CSC Board has as much or greater diversity than the Standards Panel, and we have individuals with experience with sustainability certification processes in other arenas. Solving thorny issues Ontario will be the first province to benefit from improved planning, operation and rehabilitation of the stone, sand and gravel that the CSC certification process will encourage. We live in an era of growing public interest in how goods and services are produced, and there is a responsibility within all industries the aggregate sector included to demonstrate that we have created and are working to meet high standards with respect to environmental and social responsibility, notes vice president of The Miller Group Ryan Essex. (Essex also sits on the OSSGA Board of Directors and is a CSC Board member.) The CSC Standards and independent certification system will provide a means to recognize companies that go beyond regulatory compliance and adopt world-class best practices, while ensuring and maintaining that engineering and technical standards are met and/or exceeded. The geology of southern Ontario poses significant challenges to minimizing the environmental impact of aggregate extraction. Reserves of high-quality stone, sand and gravel are often commingled with other significant natural features and located in areas of rich, important biodiversity and prime agricultural areas. In addition, the area s natural environments closest to large population centres and agricultural areas have been subjected to the most land-use pressure and have already seen the greatest loss of ecological values and connectivity. This makes the remaining natural areas in the southern part of the province all the more valuable, says Caroline Schultz, executive director at Ontario Nature and a CSC board member. Millions more people will move 12 AVENUES

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5 here in the coming decades, exacerbating conflicts between new infrastructure to support a larger population and the need to protect the natural heritage systems and farmlands that provide our food and vital ecological goods and services, such as clean air and water. Added to these pressures is the fact that the current system for licensing extraction can be lengthy, highly expensive and contentious, with no certainty of the outcome for any stakeholder, notes Essex. The area s natural environments closest to large population centres and agricultural areas have been subjected to the most land-use pressure Walker Aggregates Inc., Duntroon Quarry It s against this backdrop that the CSC Standards are being developed. All those involved have a desire to improve on the present system. Members of the SDP include those who operate and manage pits and quarries, citizens living near existing aggregate operations who sometimes object to proposed operations, planners who work with proponents and/or opponents of proposed aggregate operations, and representatives of environmental organizations. These also include staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and members of the Six Nations of the Grand River. Servicing Southwestern & Central Ontario with 30 locations Electrical Automation Safety Supplies The People to Ask! For Solar LED Street Lighting Save on Energy Cost Reduce maintenance Cost Plus a Whiter & Safer Light For Safety Clothing & Equipment Brand Name Clothing Large in stock inventory For Machine Shop Services Radiator Rebuilding & Repairs Hydraulic Hose Assemblies At the same time, this certification system is not a substitute for the existing regulatory and planning processes. It is intended to and will assist the industry and its stakeholders in transcending the current challenges they face and ultimately forge a stronger social licence between the companies and the communities in which they operate, says Johnson. This will be fostered through the mandatory involvement of independent, third-party auditors who will monitor industry conformity with the Standards. Treena Hein is an Ontario science and technology freelance writer AVENUES

Submission to the Standing Committee on General Government regarding the review the Aggregate Resources Act, May 16, 2012

Submission to the Standing Committee on General Government regarding the review the Aggregate Resources Act, May 16, 2012 Dear Members of the Standing Committee, On behalf of our members and member groups