The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) administers the Niagara Escarpment Program on behalf of the government of Ontario. The program responsibilities include implementation of the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act (1973) which established a planning process to ensure protection of the Escarpment. From this emerged the Niagara Escarpment Plan (1985), Canada’s first large-scale environmental land use plan. The Niagara Escarpment Plan (the plan) strikes a balance between protection, conservation, and sustainable development to ensure that the escarpment will remain substantially as a continuous natural environment for future generations. Since 1985, the plan has been reviewed twice, resulting in the government approval of revised Plans in 1994 and in 2005. The 2005 plan is now the plan in force, including new policies related to individual plan amendments that have been approved after 2005. The most recent edition of the plan can be found on the Niagara Escarpment Commission website.
Niagara Escarpment Commission
The Niagara Escarpment Commission (the commission) was established in June 1973. The commission is an arms-length regulatory agency of the government of Ontario with a primary responsibility of implementing the Niagara Escarpment Plan, including responsibility for development control under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, plan amendments and related functions. The commission has 17 members appointed by Order-in-Council. MNR provides corporate advice and provides liaison support between MNR and other ministries, and the commission. MNR also provides policy support and direction to the commission in fulfilling its mandate under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. This extends to ensuring accountability in the commission’s business planning and funding services. MNR’s Niagara Escarpment Program staff also provides policy advice for specific responsibilities of the Minister and Cabinet prescribed in the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act related to the commission’s governance, and with appeals and plan amendments for development proposals subject to policies in the Niagara Escarpment Plan.
