October 30, 2003
For Immediate Release

The current County representative, Mono Mayor Dave Baldwin, and the previous representative, former Mulmur Councillor Jim Turner, both received 'A' grades for their performances on the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC).

The Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment (CONE) has been monitoring decisions made by the NEC - the provincial agency responsible for controlling development on the Niagara Escarpment - since 1978.

"This report card is based on whether the Commissioner is adhering to the long-standing provincial policies of the Niagara Escarpment Plan in the votes that they make," said Jason Thorne, Executive Director of CONE.

According to CONE, both Turner and Baldwin consistently supported the Niagara Escarpment Plan on the Commission and were ardent champions of Escarpment protection.

"We know that protecting the Niagara Escarpment is very important to the residents of Dufferin County," said Thorne. "Mr. Turner and Mr. Baldwin have done an excellent job representing this viewpoint on the Commission."

Turner was appointed as Dufferin County's representative on the Commission in March 2001 and served until January 2003 when he stepped down for personal reasons. Baldwin was appointed as his replacement.

CONE is quick to point out that neither Turner nor Baldwin can be labelled "anti-development."

"Mr. Turner and Mr. Baldwin voted to approve over 95% of the development applications that came before the Commission, but that's appropriate because those applications met the provisions of the Niagara Escarpment Plan," said Thorne. "What separates them from some of their colleagues is that they know when to say 'no.' "

CONE's report card graded each of the eight Commissioners who were appointed by the provincial Cabinet to represent the municipalities that the Escarpment crosses. The report card did not provide grades for the nine public-at-large appointees. A report card including grades for all 17 Commissioners is slated for release in January 2004.

Dufferin County's representatives were among three municipal members on the NEC who received an 'A' grade from CONE. The others were the representatives for Simcoe County and Peel Region. 'F' grades were handed to the representatives of Grey County, Bruce County and Halton Region. Hamilton's representative received a 'C' and Niagara's representative received a 'D+'. The grades are based on voting records for 17 significant cases that went before the NEC between April 2000 and October 2003.

Jason Thorne, Executive Director
Coalition on the Niagara Escarpment
P: (519) 853-4955
Cell: (416) 892-4861