Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario (TAPMO) Spring 2021 Newsletter

*Please see below the Spring 2021 Newsletter from the Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario (TAPMO).MAYOR MEED WARD'S TAKE: The City of Burlington is part of TAPMO as we have several aggregate producers here. As it states in the newsletter below, the intent of TAPMO is to support businesses and also look out for the interests of municipalities in terms of sustainability and fairness in taxation and other matters.--Chair: Sue Foxton, Mayor of the Township of North DumfriesVice-Chair: Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln

TAPMO NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2021

TAPMO believes strongly that we have a constructive role working in partnership with the Provincial Government in the development of polices and regulations that affect the extraction and processing of sand, gravel, and stone materials. As a collective of municipalities that have significant aggregate resources within our respective communities, we bring a unique perspective on the day-to-day experiences associated with this industry.TAPMO recognizes the importance of aggregates in the context of Ontario’s economy, however, our interests are to balance this perspective with the objective to improve the quality and livability of our communities today and to achieve sustainability long-term. (opening of March 29, 2019 brief to the Minister Yakabuski MNRF and Minister Clark MMAH).We still hold to this statement and seek out co-operation and partnership.I am so proud of the TAPMO Executive who have given full energy to the issues while representing TAPMO. Your Executive is:

• Mayor Sue Foxton, Chair, North Dumfries;
• Mayor Sandra Easton, Vice-Chair, Lincoln;
• Mayor Marcus Ryan, Zorro Township;
• Mayor James Seeley, Puslinch Township;
• Deputy Mayor Jim Hegadorn, Loyalist; and
• Rick Maloney, Bracebridge.

Trying to pull this newsletter together, I pulled my resent files on TAPMO. Six inches deep, we have been very busy. To recap just a few items:

• Created TAPMO Terms of Reference, a Work Plan and an Executive Committee;
• Over 20 meetings with Ministers and Ministries over the past 2 years making the voice of TAPMO heard through a variety of issues;
• TAPMO’s voice along with many others was heard in maintain the protection of the endangered species;
• Representing TAPMO on the review of the ARA, going line by line and insisting on clarification such as where the Act stated a below the water table extraction could go an additional 20 feet but there was no stipulation of how often. Also strongly requesting municipalities are informed of changes. (Still pushing this one.);
• As many of you are aware, we are in the process of hiring Upstream to assist in justification regarding business verses farmland assessment for Aggregate;
• Working along side of AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) in dealing with many issues and concerns of TAPMO and we are grateful for this strengthening relationship; and
• Working of re-establishing ties with OSSGA, where we can be a united voice then this is good for all. One example is OSSGA is pushing for more MNRF staff to deal with regulation issues, TAPMO concurred.

Many virtual meetings which have made it easier to get together as an Executive, Ministries, AMO and others.Through TAPMO we have reached out to also the Municipal Financial Officers of Ontario who have been great supporters in the initiative of the MPAC assessment.I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge CAO Andrew McNeely for the numerous briefs, Memos of Understanding and countless hours he has spent working on TAPMO concerns.I also need to acknowledge Denise Donald who runs and pulls everything together, ensures all members are kept updated with the latest information and keeps us all on perspective.One last shout out to Shelley Stedall Treasurer and Director of Corporate Services, Shelley was past Chair of the Municipal Financial Officers Association and has researched and prepared information to assist the TAPMO Executive in making good decisions. Sadly Shelley will be living us as the MMAH has scooped her away from us. She is amazing and will do a great job for MMAH.We thank you for your support.Chair Mayor Foxton, TAPMO--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist