Join the conversation by engaging with MPP and candidates from across Ontario as we launch our campaign to educate elected officials on the importance of aggregate to the Ontario economy.

Ontario’s aggregate industry contributes an estimated $1.6 billion of GDP to the economy of Ontario.  It supports 7,600 jobs directly – and more than 500,000 construction jobs in Ontario.

Public policy has a direct impact on the availability of high-quality, close-to-market aggregate.  Governments of all levels have committed to building desperately needed new roads, bridges, subways and waste systems.

It is estimated that Ontario, more than 4 billion tonnes of aggregate will be required over the next 25 years to build and maintain infrastructure.

While election time provides an important opportunity to connect with candidates about the importance of aggregate to the economy and the future of Ontario, that conversation can happen throughout the entire term of the Government.

Step 1

Find out who your MPP or Candidate is.

The database below contains information for each electoral riding in Ontario.

The search bar will search the entire database – for example if you are looking for the riding of Durham – simply type Durham into the search field.

Don’t forget to scroll to the right – you will find your current MPP and/or candidate for that riding.  

The database can also be sorted by using the arrow fields on top of each of the columns.

Step 3:  Communicate with MPPs

Send "sound bite" emails or tweets to MPPs, we've taken each of the facts and broken them out into a single message so you can send a series of emails or direct tweets.

Use #aggregate #onpoli #GravelFacts and URL GravelFacts.ca when you have room.  Including pictures helps tweets get noticed.

@[insert local]  [insert riding] produced [insert number] tonnes of aggregate last year. And that's a good thing!  Stone, sand & gravel is in the buildings we work and live in, the roads we drive on, it's used in water purification, toothpaste and chewing gum. #GravelFacts

@ [insert local] Did you know that just like gold, sand and gravel are scare resources that can only be found where nature put them?  In [insert riding] production of aggregate last year was approximately [insert number of tonnes].  #GravelFacts

Retweet appropriate tweets from OSSGA.  Simply quote the tweet and insert your local candidates handle – and say something like:

@[insert local] congratulations on running for office.  Stone, sand and Gravel is important to our community.  Learn more at GravelFacts.ca

Use these as tweets or emails:  

• Did you know that aggregate (stone, sand and gravel) is literally all around us?  It's in the roads and sidewalks we drive and walk on, it's used in water purification processes and in the manufacture of everything from paper and paint to chewing gum and household cleaners. 
• Did you know that by 2041, there will be 18.2 million people in Ontario?  To support this growth, 3.84 billion tonnes of aggregate will be needed to build roads, schools, hospitals, homes and other infrastructure that we all use.
• Did you know that the aggregate industry supports more than 357,000 jobs in the $38-billion construction industry?
• Did you know that the production of aggregates directly employs 7,600 Ontarians – often in communities like yours?
• Did you know that just like gold, sand and gravel are scare resources that can only be found where nature put them?
• Did you know that not all aggregate is the same quality or type?  Using inferior quality sand and gravel means that instead of a bridge lasting 100 years, it may need to be rebuilt in 30.
• Did you know the availability of high-quality close-to-market aggregate is being depleted at a rate of 3:1?
• Did you know that new supply of aggregate is not being licensed at a sustainable rate because of increasing government restrictions?
• Did you know that it is vital that we find a balance to meet Ontario’s growing aggregate needs?
• Did you know that the aggregate industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in Ontario and is subject to more than 25 pieces of legislation?
• Did you know that the aggregate industry is safe, clean and environmentally responsible?
• Did you know that the water used in the processing of aggregate is recycled in a closed loop system with less than 8% being consumed in operations?
• Did you know that aggregate extraction is a largely mechanical process?  No chemicals are used in the processing of aggregate.
• Did you know that if every truck carrying aggregate had to drive an extra 75km to and from the job site nearly 1,000,000 tonnes of extra GHG emissions would be generated – the equivalent of the emissions of 225,000 cars per year.
• Did you know that to mitigate climate change – Ontario needs close-to-market aggregate?
• Did you know that in 2016 more than 1030 hectares of licensed aggregate lands were rehabilitated?
• Did you know that a recent study showed that more than 293 hectares of aquatic habitat, equal to 1,849 hockey rinks, have been created from aggregate sites, preserving biodiversity in communities like yours.
• Did you know that rehabilitated sites create farmland and recreational facilities across Ontario.

Learn more about why as an elected official you need to understand aggregate by visiting GravelFacts.ca