Ontario could save nearly $1 billion in roadbuilding costs over the next decade — simply by standardizing asphalt mix specifications across municipalities. According to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA), local governments are literally paving roads the hard way by using dozens of unique asphalt recipes. The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) believes adopting a single provincial standard could revolutionize how roads are built, reduce waste, and speed up construction timelines — without a single new tax dollar.
1. The Billion-Dollar Problem
Ontario municipalities currently create their own asphalt mix specifications — unique “recipes” for road paving. This fragmented approach is costing taxpayers dearly. The CANCEA report reveals that if all municipalities followed a single provincial standard, it would save almost $1 billion over 10 years — enough to pave 1,800 more lane-kilometres of roads.
2. Why Asphalt Mix Standardization Matters
Every municipality’s unique mix design forces suppliers to adjust materials, equipment, and testing procedures constantly. These differences slow down roadbuilding and raise costs unnecessarily. As TARBA’s Executive Director, Raly Chakarova, points out:
“It’s a little crazy when you think about it — the use for the road is the same, the only thing that’s changed is that it crosses a municipal border.”
3. TARBA’s Push for Change
TARBA commissioned the CANCEA report to show just how much inefficiency exists in current practices. What they didn’t expect was the scale of potential savings. The association argues that standardization could eliminate redundant testing, speed up production, and make better use of public infrastructure budgets.
4. The Cost of Confusion Across Municipalities
There are over 28 municipal and regional authorities in the Greater Toronto Area alone, each with its own asphalt mix rules. This means suppliers must constantly switch between materials and formulas — sometimes several times a day.
Here’s how that affects costs:
| Issue | Resulting Impact |
|---|---|
| Different mix designs | Frequent plant retooling |
| Varied municipal specs | Increased waste and testing |
| Custom material sourcing | Higher production costs |
| Changing standards mid-project | Project delays and quality risks |
5. Contractors Face Rising Costs and Delays
Contractors like Condrain Group’s Gianni Cotognini report that frequent specification changes often cause unnecessary rework. He cited a case in Vaughan where the Region of York switched its asphalt standard mid-project, forcing a complete mix replacement and extended lane closures.
“A lot of pavers now build in factors for a ‘rip and replace’ because these mixes are so hard to achieve,” Cotognini explains.
6. How Standardization Boosts Efficiency
Standard mixes allow asphalt plants to operate continuously in “efficient production mode.” Taylor Lefebre, Director of Quality and Production for Green Infrastructure Partners (GIP), says that instead of juggling multiple mix types daily, plants could streamline operations and cut waste dramatically.
He noted one intersection project where GIP had to produce four different asphalt mixes simply because the road crossed multiple municipal borders. Each switch resulted in wasted material, time, and money.
7. Lessons from the CANCEA Report
The report measured costs from several areas, including:
- Price differences among mix designs
- Cost of testing and compliance
- Risk of liability and non-compliance penalties
- Stripping and re-paving costs when standards are not met
The conclusion? Ontario’s patchwork system creates unnecessary complexity — and taxpayers are footing the bill.
8. Quality Improvements and Misplaced Hesitation
Some municipalities resist adopting a common standard due to past quality concerns with older asphalt blends. But Lefebre argues that asphalt technology has come a long way:
“There’s been a huge amount of quality improvement by producers since then.”
Today’s asphalt is stronger, more flexible, and more sustainable than ever before.
9. The Path Forward: Ontario’s 2025 Act
Change is on the horizon. The Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025, passed in June, focuses on speeding up housing and infrastructure development. TARBA has been actively involved in consultations to establish standardized roadbuilding practices under this framework.
This shift is crucial — as municipal road responsibilities were downloaded from the province years ago, standards became inconsistent. A unified provincial approach would bring quality, speed, and savings back under control.
10. Environmental and Economic Benefits
Standardization doesn’t just save money — it also supports sustainability. With fewer unique mix designs, producers can focus on recycled asphalt use, reducing waste and conserving natural resources.
Cotognini argues that municipalities should focus on these green practices rather than maintaining dozens of redundant mix types.
11. Collaboration for a Smarter Future
Chakarova believes that collaboration across municipalities is the key to unlocking efficiency:
“If we standardized roadbuilding throughout the region, we’d be looking at almost $12 billion in broader gains.”
Unified standards would streamline everything from production and testing to environmental performance — paving the way for smarter, greener infrastructure.
12. Final Thoughts
Ontario’s roadbuilding industry has the expertise, materials, and motivation to make real change. What’s missing is a unified vision. By harmonizing asphalt standards, municipalities can save billions, speed up construction, and ensure better, longer-lasting roads for all Ontarians.