Whereas conflicts can arise when the provincial Ministry responsible for mining chooses to override local government zoning to approve new gravel pits and other aggregate activities in areas not zoned for such purposes; And whereas provincial Aggregate Management Principles state that the Ministry should work with local governments to reduce conflicts that can develop when aggregate activities are proposed in urban and populated rural areas; And whereas consideration of the provincial Aggregate Management Principles is at the discretion of the Statutory Decision Maker within the responsible Ministry, and there is no requirement to follow their principles: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Government of British Columbia to require Statutory Decision Makers to work with local governments to resolve conflicts prior to approving aggregate activities under a Mines Act permit whenever a proposed activity does not conform to existing local government zoning.
