About the Commission

The Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is a regulatory agency that operates at “arms length” from the Ontario Government in accordance with the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. Its decisions are made independently and impartially.  

As a regulatory agency, the NEC conducts itself according to the management principles of the Government of Ontario including the principles of ethical behavior, excellence in management, honest and ethical administration of public funds, professional public service with full accountability, consistency, fairness and courtesy.  

The Commission and its staff are committed to leadership in environmental awareness and sustainable land use planning. The NEC is dedicated to program transparency, consistency, and public service that is fair, respectful, balanced and empathetic.

The Commission has 17 members appointed by Order-in-Council. Nine members, including the Chair, represent the public-at-large and eight members represent counties and regions within the Escarpment area.  

The NEC meets as a corporate body monthly to make decisions on development permit applications; consider recommendations on Plan amendments; comment on official plans, development proposals, consent applications, environmental assessments; and review Niagara Escarpment Plan policy issues.

The NEC reports to the Government of Ontario through the Minister of Natural Resources.

Our purpose  

The Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act and the Commission provide for the maintenance of the Niagara Escarpment and land in its vicinity substantially as a continuous natural environment and ensure only such development occurs as is compatible with that natural environment.  

Our mandate

The Commission's initial tasks from 1973 were to prepare a Provincial Plan for the Niagara Escarpment and to administer a system of development control. The revised Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) was approved by Cabinet in June, 2005.  

The Commission fulfills the following responsibilities:  

• To promote the objectives of the NEP;  
• To process and make decisions on development permit applications;  
• To review and comment on all proposed developments within the Plan Area and intervene at hearings if Plan policies are substantially threatened;  
• To process and make recommendations on proposed NEP amendments;  
• To assist the Minister and municipalities in achieving conformity of local official plan documents and municipal by-laws;  
• To assist the Minister in monitoring NEP implementation; and,  
• To provide a Plan interpretation role.  

As mandated by the Ontario Government, all provincial government agencies are to adopt a Public Complaints Policy. Download the NEC’s Public Complaints Policy.