Alberta Plans Reforms For Sand And Gravel

Jan 20, 2026 - 4 months ago

The Alberta government is acting fast on 15 recommendations delivered by the Sand and Gravel Task Force report to modernize private land sand and gravel pit regulation.

Sand and gravel operations supply the materials that build Alberta’s homes, roads and infrastructure. Modernizing Alberta’s approach will help create jobs, protect the environment and support a fast-growing economy.

“Sand and gravel help build the roads we drive on, the homes we live in and the infrastructure that supports our province," stated Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. "It also helps create jobs and grow our economy. These recommendations will help get rid of unnecessary government bureaucracy, create more opportunities in the sand and gravel sector and protect our strong environmental safeguards.”

Currently, there are more than 1,000 active sand and gravel pit registrations on private land across the province. For years, landowners and companies have complained about slow regulatory processes, confusing approval conditions and inconsistent timelines.

Launched in May 2025, the Sand and Gravel Task Force reviewed Alberta’s current policies and processes to find ways to shorten application timelines and reduce regulatory barriers, while maintaining environmental standards. The final report identifies 15 recommendations to reduce delays, better support landowners and strengthen Alberta’s aggregate supply chain. These include improving policies, streamlining processes, helping industry navigate regulatory processes and balancing economic development and environmental assurance.

“The sand and gravel sector creates important jobs and revenue for many rural communities and landowners," commented Glenn van Dijken, task force co-chair and MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock. "I’m proud of the collaborative work that went into this report and look forward to seeing these recommendations put into action.”
“These recommendations will lead to faster project approvals and a stronger sand and gravel sector while maintaining our province’s high environmental standards,” said Brandon Lunty, task force co-chair and MLA for Leduc-Beaumont.

Three recommendations have already been implemented. Alberta has set formal service standards for application review timelines under both the Water Act and Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. Applications are now processed concurrently across regulators. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas staff are working closely with operators and industry to share information on best practices and requirements.

Seven recommendations will be completed within the next six months. The recommendations include clarifying the roles and responsibilities of regulatory partners, improving communication with operators and introducing designated liaisons to support applicants throughout the process.

The remaining five recommendations will be completed within the next year. Alberta will expand automation and digitizing of the application process, allowing real-time application tracking, creating a one-stop shop for resources and tools to help industry, and developing templates that provide examples of high-quality applications to save operators time and further reduce review timelines.

“The efforts and recommendations put forward by the task force and corresponding implementation by the Alberta government will provide the support and certainty the industry needs to continue to invest, create jobs and ensure an adequate supply of sand and gravel for our province," said Keith Arsenault, chief executive officer, Peaskie Minerals Inc. "Our organization has already experienced some of these efficiencies, which has allowed us to expand our operations and hire more people in the communities in which we operate.”

“We commend Alberta for addressing regulatory challenges and engaging with industry through the task force," commented Christene Feist, area general manager – aggregates, Edmonton & Parsons Creek, Heidelberg Materials. "These changes will help deliver essential building materials more efficiently, boost investment confidence and enable timely infrastructure development and housing projects while maintaining Alberta’s strong environmental standards. We look forward to continued collaboration as these recommendations move toward implementation.”

Quick facts

In 2021, the sand and gravel sector directly or indirectly employed 3,159 people and produced 35.6 million tonnes of aggregate, valued at $556 million.
In 2021, 37 municipalities reported collecting $11.44 million in levies from the sand and gravel sector, which was reinvested into the communities through scholarships, public infrastructure and other community improvements.
Between 2006 and 2021, municipalities collected a total of $137 million in levies from the sand and gravel sector across Alberta.
There are currently more than 1,000 active sand and gravel pit registrations on private land across the province.

Sand and gravel task force final report: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/sand-and-gravel-task-force-final-report

Guidelines for pits and surface materials: https://www.alberta.ca/land-conservation-and-reclamation-guidelines-for-pits-and-surface-materials

Source: Province of Alberta