Aggregates

What are Mineral Aggregate Resources?

The Provincial Planning Statement, 2024, defines mineral aggregate resources as “gravel, sand, clay, earth, shale, stone, limestone, dolostone, sandstone, marble, granite, rock or other material prescribed under the Aggregate Resources Act suitable for construction, industrial, manufacturing and maintenance purposes but does not include metallic ores, asbestos, graphite, kyanite, mica, nepheline syenite, salt, talc, wollastonite, mine tailings or other material prescribed under the Mining Act.”

There are aggregate operations in the town, and new or expanding aggregate operations (such as quarries and pits) are regulated by the Ministry of Natural Resources. All aggregate proposals and amendments must follow the guidelines set out in the Aggregate Resources Act, Ontario Planning and Development Act, and the Planning Act.

Aggregate Development Applications

View our current development applications for a detailed description of the current aggregate operation applications including:

Current Application:

Aggregate operation applications

If you want to start a mineral aggregate operation in Caledon, you must obtain a license from the Ministry of Natural Resources. Part of that approval process requires a proponent to demonstrate compliance with local zoning or to possess a Development Permit from the Niagara Escarpment Commission. Development plans must conform to the Town of Caledon's Official Plan.

Aggregate Implementation Projects

In October 2024, upon the completion of the Supplementary Aggregate Resources Study, Council directed staff to prepare a work program for the completion of 12 aggregate-related projects. In March 2025, Council approved Staff Report 2025-0126: Supplementary Aggregate Policy Study Implementation Report and Work Program, which put forward an update and work program for all of the aggregate-related projects. The six projects being led by the Planning and Development Department are: 

  • A1 - Aggregate Standards Manual; 
  • A2 - Town-Wide Official Plan Amendment; 
  • A3 - Rehabilitation Master Plan; 
  • A4 - Excess Soil Official Plan Amendment; 
  • A5 - Recycled Aggregate Strategy; and 
  • A6 - Mapping of Ecologically Sensitive Groundwater Recharge Areas. 

A brief description of each project, including preliminary engagement plans, is listed below. For a fulsome description of the projects, please refer to Staff Report 2025-0126.

 A1 - Aggregate Standards Manual

The Caledon Aggregate Standards Manual is intended to be a guideline document for use by applicants, staff, and the public to understand the Town’s requirements for studies submitted as part of an aggregate application. The Manual will include detailed terms of reference (TORs) for the various studies on the following topics:

  • Surface Water
  • Hydrogeology
  • Site Plan Requirements
  • Transportation
  • Social Impact Assessment
  • Air Quality and Noise
  • Ecology
  • Blasting and Vibration
  • Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

A team containing experts on each of the subject areas has been retained to create the Manual.

The Aggregate Standards Manual is designed to provide direction and clarity to future aggregate applications. Please note that the Manual will not apply to applications currently underway. 

Engagement activities are slated for Fall 2025.  Please visit the Town’s Have Your Say website for details.

 
 A2 - Town-Wide Official Plan Amendment

This project would bring forward a Town-Wide OPA for policy items that were not implemented through the Supplementary Aggregate Resources Policy Study. These policy items include minimum biomass requirements for woodlands over 0.5 hectares, air quality emissions policies, broadband back-up alarms, and report accessibility requirements.

Work on the Town-Wide Official Plan amendment is paused until a decision on Future Caledon and OPA 1 is made by the Province. 
A3 - Rehabilitation Master Plan

This project will undertake a review of the 2021 Caledon Aggregate Rehabilitation Master Plan and determine its potential applicability as a Town-wide guideline.

Engagement activities are slated for Fall 2025.  Please visit the Town’s Have Your Say website for details.
A4 - Excess Soil

This project will create a term of reference for proponents who wish to apply for an Excess Soil Official Plan Amendment.

Engagement activities are slated for Fall 2025.  Please visit the Town’s Have Your Say website for details.
A5 - Recycled Aggregate

This project is a collaboration between Town Engineering/Operations Staff and Planning Staff, with project leadership provided by the Consultant team, to facilitate a holistic aggregate recycling program for the Town, including securing storage space and locations to store aggregate materials. Subconsultants and/or industry professionals will be required for additional expertise.

A staff report will be provided to Council in Fall 2025.
A6 - Mapping of Ecologically Sensitive Groundwater Recharge Areas

This project is an assessment of the state of mapping, methodologies, and science of determining Ecologically Sensitive Groundwater Recharge Areas that is currently being undertaken by the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).

The project staff report will be presented to Council for information during the September 16, 2025 Planning and Development Committee meeting.  

Project Archives

2024 Supplementary Aggregate Policy Study

The Council for The Corporation of the Town of Caledon passed By-laws 2024-082 and 2024-083 on October 7, 2024, to adopt Official Plan Amendment No. 1 and amend Zoning By-law 2006-50 under Sections 17, 26, and 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13.

The intent of these amendments was to develop updated mineral aggregate policies and mapping for the Council-adopted Future Caledon Official Plan and updates to Zoning By-Law 2006-50, where appropriate, building upon the findings of the Joint Peel-Caledon Aggregate Policy Review.
Aggregate Resources Policy Review: Transportation Technical Paper

In May 2023, the Region of Peel and the Town of Caledon jointly published a technical memorandum that analyzes the implications of aggregate operations on transportation in Peel Region.