October 30, 2003
For Immediate Release

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.

CONE identified 17 significant development cases that went before the NEC between April 2000 and October 2003. Mr. Krantz was present for 14 of those decisions and voted against the Niagara Escarpment Plan's provisions for 12 of them.

Among Mr. Krantz's votes that CONE says contravened the Niagara Escarpment Plan were votes in favour of the expansion of Dufferin Aggregates' quarry in Milton, the spreading of sewage sludge on Escarpment lands, and the creation of several rural lot severances.

"The Niagara Escarpment Plan has been in place for nearly 20 years now," said Thorne. "It has enjoyed support from provincial governments of all political parties. It has been admired around the world as a model for controlling development in environmentally sensitive areas. And it has successfully held back urban sprawl on the Escarpment. By regularly voting against the Plan, Mr. Krantz risks undoing all of that."

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.

Mr. Krantz is the longest-serving member on the current Commission, representing the Region of Halton since March 1996. Although he was appointed by the provincial Cabinet, he was nominated for the position by Regional Council. That is why CONE has released this report card just prior to the municipal elections.

"Municipal voters don't elect Commissioners directly, but who they choose as municipal councillors will go a long way toward determining who ends up representing the Region on the NEC," said Thorne. "We want voters to keep that in mind on election day, because Halton deserves better than an 'F' performance for Escarpment protection."

Halton's representative was one of three municipal members on the NEC who received an 'F' grade from CONE. The others were the representatives for Grey County and for Bruce County. 'A' grades were awarded to the Commissioners for Simcoe County, Peel Region and Dufferin County. Hamilton's representative received a 'C' and Niagara Region's representative received a 'D+'.

The difference between an 'A' grade and an 'F' grade, according to CONE, is knowing when to say 'no.'

"Commissioners who received 'A' grades still voted to approve well over 95% of the development applications that came before them, because those applications met the provisions of the Niagara Escarpment Plan," said Thorne. "But those NEC members recognize that not all development is good. For the small number of applications that come forward that violate the provisions of the Plan, an 'A' Commissioner knows when to say 'no.'"

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