Chair’s Corner

Moving to net-zero emissions

John MacKay - OAPC Chair

In February 1974, nine road builders called a meeting in Toronto to address a common threat to their industry. It was here that the Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association (now OAPC) was formed, an association created to deal with the technical issues related to asphalt. The necessity for this meeting was the oil embargo that started in October 1973. The embargo banned petroleum exports to targeted nations and introduced cuts in oil production causing prices to triple within one year. The problem for Ontario asphalt producers was carryover work estimated in 1973 that they were obligated to complete in the 1974 season. Through this new association, the industry was able to achieve relief for these carryover contracts. It would take many years of negotiating with the Ministry of Transportation over the unpredictable fluctuations in pricing, but in the late 1990s OHMPA was able to convince the MTO to establish an asphalt cement price index. In the years since OAPC’s creation, asphalt pavements have become a highly technical product, requiring strictly specified materials under rigorous quality assurance programs that govern its tolerances — everything from the aggregates based on shape, size, hardness, and wear index to the increasingly stringent geometric parameters that govern the acceptance of the mix’s placement. The variety of mix types are almost limitless, determined by the mix’s position in the road structure, its function related to traffic volumes, anti-skid properties, noise reduction, and climatic conditions that vary from freezing to high temperatures. The technical list of issues to be addressed by OAPC is ever growing, making the importance of OAPC to the success of the Ontario asphalt industry as important today as it was in 1974.

In January, the OAPC board completed its annual review of the council’s strategic priorities and key goals for 2022. Out of this review, the board committed to develop an action plan toward a net-zero emissions strategy that could be implemented industry-wide over the next 10 years. OAPC is facing another energy crisis of sorts, and in 2022 industry must develop a plan to reduce our collective greenhouse gas emissions. The development of this action plan will help the industry reduce emissions, and through this important initiative, OAPC will showcase asphalt pavements as the premier pavement choice for roadbuilding in Ontario.

Having just concluded my term as chair, I am thankful to the nine founding members who created the great organization that I have had the pleasure to lead. During the recent 2022 virtual summit & AGM, OAPC paid tribute to one of its founding members, Cosimo Crupi of D. Crupi & Sons. Cosimo was presented with the OAPC Honorary Life Membership Award.

I would like to extend a special thank you to the council staff and board, as well as the ORBA board, for their support. It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as chair of OAPC. As I pass the ceremonial gavel on to our new chair, Dominic Crupi, I know that guided by his passion and leadership, OAPC is in good hands.