00:00President of the Mining and Processing of Aggregates Association, Danny Passad, says the association's concern centers on what he describes
00:10as unequal treatment within the sector.
00:13He claims while some operators received holdover letters, others who have waited years remain in the wilderness.
00:21We have sent correspondence and, you know, that delay in getting to have that meeting with them to discuss these
00:30issues is like far-reaching.
00:34So our next step, there's no other alternative but to be addressed by the courts.
00:41Passad tells the Morning Edition obtaining approvals has become like a revolving door, with the ministry shifting responsibility instead of
00:50accelerating action.
00:52We outdated. So we are, in part, we are trying to see how we could integrate with the system to
00:59assist, right?
01:01I mean, what did they say? You know, well, if we won't win, everybody will win. But in this case,
01:09are we losing?
01:09Meanwhile, attorney for the association, Vanna Jankipassad, argues the ministry's actions may amount to a violation of the Minerals Act.
01:21I would say that these holdover letters are entirely ultra-virus and it amounts to an abusive process.
01:28There's no statutory basis given to the minister to issue a holdover letter. It is not mentioned in the act.
01:38She warns, this is no minor breach.
01:42It is not merely a procedural issue. It is more than that. It amounts to a significant breach of duty.
01:51It amounts to a dereliction of duty.
01:53Because if so many operators within a span of more than six years have submitted their applications and they have
02:02been disregarded,
02:04they have not been given sufficient reasons in law as to why a determination has not been made.
02:10Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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