Faq

The Aggregate Resources Act requires you to rehabilitate your pit or quarry during its operational lifetime.

You need to rehabilitate the parts of your site which you’ve completed work on, while you continue extracting aggregates in other areas. These areas can be rehabilitated into wetlands and habitat for wildlife, farmland, parks, fruit orchards, vineyards, subdivisions, golf courses and recreational fishing areas.

Most changes to site plans, which includes plans for rehabilitation, requires approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

You can sign up for a FREE TOARC production reporting session online by sending a message through our Contact Us page. TOARC has also provided two helpful ways to learn how to fill out your Production Report(s) below.

1. TOARC reporting handbook (PDF – 0.67MB) click here to download
2. A recorded production reporting training session:

The Compliance Assessment Report is submitted to your local Ministry of Natural Resources District office and is due by September 30th of each year. Do not send your Compliance Assessment Report to TOARC.

Click here to find your local MNR representative for your area.

Link to the forms are below:

• Compliance Assessment Report (English Version)
• Compliance Assessment Report (French Version)

Please click here to find details outlining various amendment requirements on The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website.

You can apply to make changes or updates at any time to your:

• site plan
• licence
• permit

If your amendment requires notification and consultation, your notices must now be served by either:

• registered mail
• courier
• personal service

To apply for an amendment, complete an Amendment Form and email it to ARAApprovals@ontario.ca.

All amendment forms can be found on The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Central Forms Repository. We have provided links to the amendment forms below:

• Amendment Form Aggregate Resources Act (English Version)
• Amendment Form Aggregate Resources Act (French Version)

Please work with your local Aggregate Technical Specialist if you have any questions on how to complete and submit a form. All submissions are sent to ARAapprovals@ontario.ca

Legal name changes require an official amendment to the licence/permit document and is processed by The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) through the Integrated Aggregates Operations Section (IAOS). This new branch of the MNR came into effect on April 1, 2020 and the memo explaining the new delivery model can be found here (PDF 0.25MB).

The IAOS branch is contacted through a general delivery inbox. From there your request will be assigned to an IAOS team member and they will contact you directly. Please send your amendment requests to: ARAapprovals@ontario.ca

For guidance on how to fill out the amendment forms correctly, you can reach out to your local Aggregate Technical Specialist. Click here to find the MNR Aggregate Technical Specialist in your area.

Transfers/surrenders are processed by The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) through the Integrated Aggregates Operations Section (IAOS). This new branch of the MNR came into effect on April 1, 2020 and the memo explaining the new delivery model can be found here (PDF 0.25MB).

The IAOS branch is contacted through a general delivery inbox. From there your request will be assigned to an IAOS team member and they will contact you directly. Please send your amendment requests to: ARAapprovals@ontario.ca

For guidance on how to start the process of a transfer or surrender, you can reach out to your local Aggregate Technical Specialist. Click here to find the MNR Aggregate Technical Specialist in your area.

For the tender submission to be considered complete, the Contractor must submit:

1. Properly completed Form of Tender:
2. The Tender deposit equal to at least 10% of the total Tender Price
3. The Agreement to Bond, or Agreement to furnish a Letter of Credit
4. Part A to the Form of Tender – Schedule of Items and Prices;
5. Part B to the Form of Tender – Schedule of Addition and Deletion Prices;
6. Part C to the Form of Tender – Summary of Tenderer’s Experience in Successfully Completing Similar Work.

Yes!  Prospective bidders must attend a mandatory pre-bid site meeting for each tender, unless otherwise stated in the Call for Tender. The Call for Tender document will list the starting location for the meeting and then we will tour to each site thereafter.

In order to be awarded the “Successful Tenderer” the contractor must be able to provide:

• Performance and Maintenance Bond, or Letter of Credit, equal to at least 50% of the total tender price, to remain in effect for a minimum period of one year from the date of total performance of the Contract.
• Current and valid clearance certificate, as issued by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
• General Public Liability Insurance and Motor Vehicle Insurance Policy of two million dollars ($2,000,000).

The MAAP program typically has two construction seasons in a given year: one in the Spring and one in the Fall. The MAAP Program publishes an advertisement on Biddingo and on our Call for Tenders page on our website.

TOARC is also responsible for the rehabilitation of revoked licences and permits throughout the Province. The construction of these sites can happen during any of the snow-less months throughout the year. Check back frequently for potential revoked rehabilitation projects.

Interested parties must participate in a mandatory pre-bid meeting prior to submitting a bid, unless otherwise stated.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) have outlined a 4-step process for the review and decision process. Click here to read the details.

They have also developed a process map to describe the process.

Fees collected from licences, wayside permits and aggregate permits will be distributed approximately as follows:

• 3% to the Aggregate Resources Trust for rehabilitation and research
• 61% to the local municipality in which the site is located
• 15% to the upper-tier municipality in which the site is located
• 21% to the Crown (minimum)

The requirements for applying for a licence or permit is detailed on The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) website. Click here to find out more.

Funds to support research projects come in part from income earned on Trust assets and in part from a portion of the licence fees paid by aggregate producers. The Board of Directors determines the level of funding for any particular research project after carefully considering the research project and its relevance and application to the aggregate industry at large.

For full details to see if you qualify for funding visit our research page.

You can sign up for a FREE TOARC production reporting session online by sending a message through our Contact Us page. TOARC has also provided two helpful ways to learn how to fill out your Production Report(s) below.

1. TOARC reporting handbook (PDF – 0.67MB) click here to download
2. A recorded production reporting training session:

TOARC’s office is located at 1001 Champlain Avenue, Suite 103, Burlington, Ontario L7L 5Z4.

Champlain Avenue is located between Walkers Line and Appleby Line on the North Service Road of the QEW.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) have created a website that is available to the public. Using their online tool you can locate pits and quarries by:

• licence or permit holder
• size
• operation type
• maximum annual tonnage limit

You can also export information into a table or report.

Click here to visit the webpage.

After rehabilitation is completed there is a 1-year warranty to ensure the rehabilitation succeeds (i.e. no erosion,  hydroseed germination etc.). If an issue arises the site will be fixed by the contractor at no cost to the landowner.

After the 1-year warranty period is finished, there is no obligation to the MAAP program. We may request permission to visit the site in subsequent years to document progress.

Contact us directly through our contact form or call us through our toll free number at 1-866-308-6272.  Please provide information about your property such as:

• Lot & Concession
•  Township
• County
• Fire number
• Street name

Our staff will review your inquiry and respond back to discuss your property further.

TOARC is documenting the after-uses of closed/surrendered pits and quarries across the Province as part of a research initiative. A field technician left information at your property because we have information showing that a surrendered pit/quarry may have been on your property.  We do not complete inventories without permission of the landowner, unless visible from the road.

The goal of the study is to create a comprehensive database of sites, and gain an understanding of what surrendered pits and quarries are being used for post-extraction. All site-specific information is confidential and the study results will only be released in a collated manner.

Contact us if you would allow the surrendered site to be a part of the research initiative and we can set up an appointment!

Please check out the Surrendered Sites Reporting and Mapping Tool on our website (http://www.toarc.com/ssrt/index.html) to see the most up-to-date information on this research initiative and other sites in your area.

Click here to see some general FAQ’s about surrendered sites and the eSurrender program.

MAAP is funded by the aggregate industry, paid for by producers, through a portion of the per tonne levy. In 2018, the portion of the levy for the MAAP program is set to 3% of the total annual license fees collected. Further years contribution to the MAAP program will be adjusted based on an inflation index.

In June 1997, a unique program was transferred from The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to The Ontario Aggregate Resources Corporation (TOARC). This program is called the MAAP program, which stands for Management of Abandoned Aggregate Properties.

The MAAP program is dedicated to the rehabilitation of abandoned aggregate pits and quarries in areas of Ontario that are located within designated areas under the Aggregate Resources Act.

The Aggregate Resources Act and its regulations require aggregate operators to pay fees related to the extraction of aggregate materials. Aggregate licence and permit holders must pay an annual fee. Some annual fees are shared.

Royalties are paid to the Crown for use of Crown-owned aggregate.

Annual adjustment

Fees and royalties will be adjusted annually to account for inflation, in accordance with Regulation 244/97. This adjustment will follow the Ontario Consumer Price Index. The Ministry will post the adjusted fees and royalties before January 1^st of every year.

Fee and royalty rates

Fees and royalties will be charged as follows:

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) made changes to aggregate fees and royalties. Changes include:

• Increases to aggregate fees for licences, aggregate permits and wayside permits (started on 2018 production)
• Adjustments to annual fees so that operations on Crown land will pay the same fees as those on private land (started on 2018 production)
• Indexation of annual fees and royalties (starting with 2019 production)

In addition, royalty will now be charged on aggregate sites subject to mining leases. Some sites may be eligible for reduced royalty rates during the phase-in period set in regulation.
For more information please see the Notice issued by the Ministry:

**Download Notice: MNR Notice Aggregate Fees July 2017 (PDF 0.17MB)

For information on current fee and royalty rates please refer to the following link on the Aggregate Resources page:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/aggregate-resources#section-9

For information on changes to the MNR Program Delivery Model (effective April 1, 2020) please refer to the following memo:

Integrated Aggregate Operations Section-Memo-Licence-Permits April 1 2020____docx (PDF 0.25MB)

Yes! All fees must be paid up-to-date in order for the The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) to transfer / surrender your licence or permit.

You must complete an “Application to Transfer” or in the case of Surrender apply in hard copy to the MNR. Final production reports and fees for the current year will need to be completed/paid as well as any past due items. Once the MNR has the items and inspections they require and TOARC has all reports and fees then the final transfer / surrender can be completed.

If there are any past due items for any of your licenses or permits anywhere in Ontario the MNR will not proceed with a transfer or surrender until all items are current.

Online payments are accepted at most financial institutions. To pay online through your bank you may select us as a payee and use your licence or permit number as the account number (each licence or permit must be set up as a separate account). If your bank has a minimum amount of digits required as the account number, then add zeros before your licence or permit number to make up the minimum requirements.

You may also make payment by cheque or money order by mailing the payment to our office (bottom portion of your invoice is detachable and should be returned with your payment). Otherwise, to ensure accuracy, please indicate the licence number(s) being paid on the cheque. Do not send cash in the mail. Cash payments can be made in person at our office. Please ask for a receipt.

TOARC cannot accept payment by credit card.

If you meet the criteria as set by the ARA, the forms must be completed, verified and submitted with the Annual Production Report (year specific). Be sure that the form is verified by the correct agent (i.e. Ministry of Transportation) based on what type of exemption you are applying under.

For full details and the proper forms to download, please click here.

Yes! You can submit your annual production report by scanning and emailing to productionreports@toarc.com.

Please do not send photos (JPEGS) of your production reports – we will ask you to resubmit.

You can sign up for a FREE TOARC production reporting session online by sending a message through our Contact Us page. TOARC has also provided two helpful ways to learn how to fill out your Production Report(s) below.

1. TOARC reporting handbook (PDF – 0.67MB) click here to download
2. A recorded production reporting training session:

For licences/permits issued prior to April 1, 2021 imported materials from other sources (purchased, recycled, another pit/quarry) do not need to be reported to TOARC. However, records must be kept on file to substantiate the origin of the sources of these materials.  If you cannot substantiate the source of the non-invoiced/non-native material, your production may get re-assessed for the licence fee.

Any extraction that is used in the Mill Yard or for any purpose other than a forestry road that the public has access to must pay the royalties. This must be separated from your regular extraction and filled in the “Additional Commodity” section of your Production Report identifying the product for your operation type and entered in metric tonnes. You must still fill in the regular portion of your report (first section) even if “NIL” was removed.

Yes! Every licensee and every holder of an aggregate permit must file with the Aggregate Resources Trust, on or before January 31st an annual production report setting out the quantity of aggregate removed from a site in each month of the previous year. If no tonnage has been removed then a “nil” production report must be filed.

Call TOARC at 1-866-308-6272 and request another copy, or make the correction on the original copy and resubmit by writing “REVISED” across the top of the report and attach an explanation/ reason for the changes you have made.