Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What and where is the Niagara Escarpment?

A. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment is a provincially and internationally significant geological landform and one of Canada's most magnificent landforms. The Escarpment is a forested ridge travelling 725 km from Queenston, near Niagara Falls, to Tobermory, at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment stretches across portions of eight counties or regions, which include 23 local municipalities.

Q. When was the Niagara Escarpment Program and Commission established?

A. The Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, enacted by the Ontario Legislature in June 1973, established the Commission, purpose and objectives of the Act, procedures for Plan preparation, approval, review, amendment and the framework for development permits.

Q. What is the purpose of the Act, Plan and Commission?

A. As set out in Section 2 of the Act, the purpose is "to provide for the maintenance of the Niagara Escarpment and land in its vicinity substantially as a continuous natural environment and to ensure only such development occurs as is compatible with that natural environment."

Q. When was the Niagara Escarpment Plan approved?

A. The Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act requires a periodic review of the Niagara Escarpment Plan to ensure that it continues to meet the requirements of its mandate. The Plan was approved initially by Cabinet in June 1985 and revised in June 1994 and June 2005.

Q. What are the essential features of the Plan?

A. The Niagara Escarpment Plan Area covers 183,311 ha. The Niagara Escarpment Plan includes policies for seven land-use designations (Natural, Protection, Rural, Recreation, Urban, Minor Urban and Mineral Resource Extraction), provides development criteria and establishes objectives for the Niagara Escarpment Parks System as 131 parks and protected areas.

Q. How is the Plan administered by the Commission?

A. The Commission was assigned responsibilities for Plan implementation as follows:
a) to promote the objectives of the plan;
b) to process and make decisions on development permit applications;
c) to review and comment on all proposed developments within the Plan Area and intervene at hearings if Plan policies are substantially threatened;
d) to process and make recommendations on proposed Plan amendments;
e) to assist the Minister and municipalities in achieving conformity of local official plan documents and municipal by-laws;
f) to assist the Minister in monitoring Plan implementation; and
g) to provide a Plan interpretation role.

Q. What is the composition of the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC)?

A. The Commission is a provincial agency composed of a 17-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Ontario Government through Order-in-Council. Nine members including the Chair represent the public-at-large and eight members represent the counties and regions.

Q. How does the Commission report to the Province?

A. The Minister of Natural Resources has been assigned responsibility for the Act, the Plan and the Commission. The Chair and Commission report to the Ontario Government through the Minster of Natural Resources.

Q. How does the Commission make its decisions?

A. The Commission meets as a corporate body usually once per month to: make decisions on development permit applications; consider recommendations on Plan amendments; comment on official plans, development proposals, consent applications, environmental assessments; and review Plan policy issues.

Q. What assistance does the Commission provide to applicants?

A. Application forms for Development Permits and Plan Amendments are available at Commission offices together with user friendly guidelines and fact sheets on procedures. Commission staff make site inspections and are available to assist and advise applicants on Plan policies, review process, Commission decision and appeals process.

Applicants may appear before the Commission to provide information about their applications. Commission staff make recommendations, but the decisions on Development Permits and Plan Amendments are made by the Commissioners as a corporate body.

Q. What is the annual workload volume of the Commission?

A. The Commission received over 600 development permit applications during the 2000-01 fiscal year. Of the 483 applications processed, 97 per cent were approved, all with environmentally appropriate conditions. In addition, the Commission annually reviews close to 100 consent applications, comments on official plan documents, environmental assessments and zoning by-laws, and appears at hearings on proposed amendments. In 2000-01, the Communications Department responded to nearly 250 direct requests for brochures and publications, increasing annual distribution to nearly 25,000 brochures. The Niagara Escarpment Commission also hosts a biennial Leading Edge conference focusing on biosphere reserves, research and monitoring.

Q. What does the World Biosphere Reserve designation mean?

A. The Niagara Escarpment received special international recognition as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in February 1990. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment is one of 12 World Biosphere Reserves in Canada (external link to CBRA webpage), and is part of a network of more than 400 biosphere reserves in 94 different countries. This international designation recognizes the Niagara Escarpment Plan and management system, which is complemented by continual research, monitoring activity and education.

For more information, on the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, visit the "Biosphere" web section.

Q. What is the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System (NEPOSS)?

A. Part 3 of the Plan set out policies for a Niagara Escarpment Parks System and Open Space System (NEPOSS) in 126 existing and proposed parks, open space or protected areas. The majority of these areas are linked with the Bruce Trail, Canada's Oldest Footpath. The Ministry of Natural Resources, co-ordinates development and administration of the Niagara Escarpment Parks System. Parks partners include seven conservation authorities, municipalities and Parks Canada.

Q. Does the Niagara Escarpment Plan contemplate future needs for additional areas for mineral resource extraction?

A. Existing pits and quarries are designated as Mineral Resource Extraction Area in the approved Plan. Land-use policies, objectives and development criteria provide for extractive operations, after uses and new mineral resource extraction areas.

New extraction areas producing less than 20,000 tonnes per year are permitted in the Rural Area without Plan Amendment. New extraction areas producing more than 20,000 tonnes may also be designated in the Rural Area by Plan Amendment.

Q. What efforts has the Commission made to streamline procedures and improve service to its customers/applicants/stakeholders?

A. The Commission and its staff continue to make site inspections, meet with applicants and provide assistance/guidelines in processing applications. Recognizing the need to shorten response and decision time, the Commission has introduced its administrative fast-tracking system for routine applications with standard conditions. The Commission obtained Minister's approval to amend Development Control Regulation 828/90 to exempt minor development from the requirement for a Development Permit. Exempted items include building additions, decks, ponds, tree cutting with approved plans, general agriculture, demolitions and building maintenance within prescribed limits.

The Commission also initiated amendments under government reform and Red Tape reduction initiatives to streamline procedures under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. The Act as amended by government on December 22, 1999 clarifies, improves and shortens procedures for Development Permits and Plan Amendments while retaining objectives for Escarpment protection and compatible development.

Q. Where is Niagara Escarpment information available?

A. The Commission has many background studies, maps, books, technical reports, articles and periodicals in its Resource Centre at the Georgetown Office. These references are available for review by the general public, students, researchers and special interest groups. To make an appointment to visit the Resource Centre, email Karen Carruthers.

Q. When are the Commission's offices open and staff available?

A. Staff are available to assist clients and applicants for the Commission during the office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Voice mail services are available outside office hours and for when staff are away from the office. For the convenience of customers, appointments can be made for meetings and site inspections at other times.

Q. What are some of the Escarpment resources and recreation benefits?

A. Ontario's Niagara Escarpment rises wild and beautiful above Ontario's farmlands, cities and industries. Its mountains, streams, scenic valleys, waterfalls, woodlands and natural areas contain more than 300 birds species, 53 mammals, 90 fish and 37 types of wild orchids, and it is home to the oldest living eastern white cedars in Canada. The Niagara Escarpment has some of Ontario's best skiing, camping, hiking, four season resorts, boating, swimming, viewing and public recreation opportunities. The Niagara Escarpment is host to the world famous Bruce Trail established in 1967 which contributes over $100 million per year to local and regional economies through tourism.