Ontario stone offers untapped potential, says industry official.

The creation of a healthy stone industry could mean a wealth of prosperity for Ontario, says the president of the Ontario Association of Granite and Marble Industries.

Colombe Hinse of Sudbury says a strong stone industry will strengthen Ontario's economy by creating long-term, stable and well-paid jobs and generating spending and tax revenue.

"The building of an industry is what needs to take place. What is important are the spin-off jobs," says Hinse.

She cites the success of the Quebec Association of Granite Industries which was formed 15 years ago and has grown from $4 million in sales in 1977 to an estimated $190 million in 1989. According to Hinse, this growth has created 2,000 jobs.

However, she notes that this growth would not have been possible without a partnership between the private and public sectors.

A growth strategy which emphasized the development of an industry large enough to compete in world markets was sponsored by the public sector in Quebec. Its support included the transfer of technology and know-how as well as an aggressive marketing campaign promoting Quebec stone.

"If you build a manufacturing plant, you are talking about a new product that we don't have any expertise in. It is knowledge that can be brought in, and people can be trained," comments Hinse.

"A lot of people have tried (to start up in this business) and lost their shirts. It is very risky. You cannot do it alone, and these days everything has to be a partnership. Everyone has to work together," she adds.

FUNDING SOUGHT

The Ontario association is presently attempting to get cross-province representation for its board, and it is putting together a proposal to obtain funding from the government.

Ontario has great potential for this type of industry compared to European countries, says Hinse. The province has a small population and large land mass with large deposits of various types of materials having a variety of colors and textures.

When compared to the white marble of Italy or granite of Finland, stone found in Ontario is quite versatile. It includes bedded limestone, dolomite, shale, slate, sandstone, marble, flagstone banded gneiss, massive white to red granite and black anorthsite.

Ontario presently has about 30 stone companies which produce rough to finished products such as architectural stone, polished tile, curbstone, monuments and hedgerock.

A new company, Tundra Granite and Marble Inc., is scheduled to begin operation in Kirkland Lake in the near future. It has been offered a $100,000 loan from the Temiskaming Development Fund Corporation to cut, polish and distribute dimensional stones.

Rock will be quarried from a number of Ontario sites, several of which are located in Northern Ontario. Different colors will be made available, ranging from beige to black, but of particular interest is a unique green stone discovered near Kirkland Lake. Tundra Granite and Marble expects to have seven people on the payroll within one year of operation.

LONGETIVITY

What makes granite particularly attractive today is that it can stand up to pollution. According to Hinse, granite's longevity is 10 times greater than that of concrete or brick.

Recognizing this, seven U.S. states have legislated that granite be used for bridge foundations, abutments and supports.

Last year 30 million metric tons of dimensional stone with an estimated worth of between $40 billion and 60 billion were produced worldwide. Forty per cent of this was granite. In North America alone 1.5 million metric tons of stone was imported from Italy.

"We have the raw product and the resources, but we are not producers," says Hinse. "We have been exporting and buying it back (processed) at 10 times the price. All monument stone comes from outside the province. What we do need is to create a market."

Established as a non-profit corporation, the association will serve as a focus for the industry. The marketing of stone and the gathering of expertise are to be its mandate.

Provincial funding is being sought from the province to provide for the opening of a business office as well as working capital for operation of the association for five years, explains Hinse.

Membership fees and commissions on sales generated through the group's efforts will eventually fund the association's operation on an on-going basis.

Any business, association, organization, municipality or Native band, or individuals such as architects and engineers, may become a member by paying an annual membership fee of $100.