For Ontario Built in Ontario ELRUS.COM Ontario Manufacturing Aylmer: (519) 773-8915 aylmer@elrus.com Ontario Sales, Parts & Service Cambridge: (519) 624-6500 ontario@elrus.com TM WINTER 2019 AVENUES 11 regulations that the industry and Ontario have put into effect and follow very closely. So the question is, will these studies be required for development rock? Will fees be applied to it in the future? OSSGA: Many analysts say that a massive disruption is coming to transportation in the form of electric and autonomous vehicles. Would this open more possibili- ties for aggregate operations in the North? Shannon: Northern travel is considerably different than that in Southern Ontario. There are challenges both in the types of roads and truck-friendly access, distance between sources, purchasers, and projects. We are still working as an industry on axle weights and truck designs, so adding another element on top of that could further compli- cate matters. Michael: That said, if electric and autono- mous vehicles create competitive advantage in our market we would definitely entertain the idea. Jim: The market right now for autonomous vehicles isn’t surface operations, it’s under- ground. In many underground sites, such as Timmins, they’re already implementing that technology. But in gravel pits, there are very few locations where it’s going to be financially viable – unless you can’t find someone to operate a loader, but that’s the job everyone wants! And much of the processing is already becoming more and more automated. OSSGA: What makes Central and Northern Ontario a good place to operate and extract? Michael: While infrastructure and roads still drive the aggregate industry for the most part in Northern Ontario, the mining industry is starting to grow and is showing signs that it could experience a boom over the next five to 10 years. If this is the case, demand for close-to-market aggregate sources will be even more valuable. Additionally, there is always going to be demand for aggregate, and although it may take several more years, the prospect of selling northern aggregate to the GTA is becoming increasingly more attractive. However, it remains a challenge to obtain properties that can be licensed that would be close enough to market to be competitive. When the southern resources are exhausted, northern aggregate will be the focus. Shannon: While we haven’t seen an increase in demand for northern aggregate yet, we suspect there may be potential for opportunity there in the future. Outside of looking at the demand for our resources, the North is our home. We grew up here. Our children, family and friends are here. It’s the people that matter and the opportunity to use what we have to provide employment, resources and opportunities in our commu- nity – that’s what makes it good. Jim: One of my co-workers started in the late 1960s and eventually moved up to Sudbury. He’s now retiring and spent his whole career up there. It used to be that when somebody wanted to go to Sudbury, you had to promise them that they’d only be there for two to three years. Now, once you “get” what Northern Ontario is all about, people love it. It certainly is the community. • COVER STORY