CONE's NEC Report Card 2003

CONE volunteers attend all of the NEC meetings to monitor their decisions and performance. The information collected is used to produce a biennial NEC Report Card (find out more about being a volunteer NEC Monitor).

The purpose of the NEC Report Card is to hold members of the NEC accountable to the public for the decisions they have made, good and bad.


The 2003 NEC Report Card

On October 30, 2003 CONE released the latest version of its NEC Report Card. This version focussed on the municipal representatives on the Commission and was released just prior to the 2003 municipal elections.

Municipal councils play a key role in the protection of the Escarpment. While development control ultimately rests in the hands of the provincial government, municipal politicians are critical to the success of the Escarpment program. One of the most important ways that municipalities have a say in Escarpment development decisions is through their representatives on the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC).

Each of the eight counties and regions that the Escarpment crosses (including the City of Hamilton), has one representative on the 17-member NEC. While these representatives are appointed by Cabinet, they are chosen from lists of nominees that are submitted by municipal councils.

CONE's report card grades the performance of these municipal NEC representatives. The report card is based on 17 significant decisions of the NEC between April 2000 and October 2003. The decisions represent a diverse sample of Escarpment issues, including quarry applications, rural lot severances, commercial developments and highways. Each Commissioner’s grade was based on whether their vote met or contravened the provisions of the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP).

View the background report which lists all of the decisions and each Commissioner's voting record (PDF file - 183 kb).

Commissioners who received a high grade did not oppose all, or even most, development permit applications. In fact, during the time period studied, more than 95% of development permit applications were approved, because they met NEP provisions. However, Commissioners who received high grades knew when to say ‘no.’ For those few applications that violated the NEP, these Commissioners voted to refuse them. In contrast, Commissioners who received a low grade frequently voted to approve development applications even though they violated NEP provisions.

Niagara Escarpment Commission
Municipal Representatives Report Card 2003
Rob Nicholson (Niagara) D+ Dave Baldwin / Jim Turner (Dufferin) A
Marvin Caplan (Hamilton) C Ian Lang (Simcoe) A+
Gord Krantz (Halton) F Larry Miller (Grey) F
Richard Paterak (Peel) A Betsy Stewart (Bruce) F

Region of Niagara representative Rob Nicholson received a grade of ‘D.’ However, over the past year, he has become one of the more thoughtful NEP supporters, voting against Dufferin Aggregates’ quarry expansion and the spreading of sewage sludge on Escarpment lands, and in favour of a full environmental assessment for the Mid Peninsula Highway.

City of Hamilton representative Marvin Caplan voted in support of the NEP on most applications, but against the NEP on some large, controversial proposals including Dufferin Aggregates, winery development on Niagara’s grape lands and the sewage sludge issue. His grade is ‘C.’

Appointed in March 1996, Region of Halton representative Gordon Krantz is the current NEC’s longest-serving member. Mr. Krantz has been one of the most consistent NEP opponents. He scored an ‘F,’ having voted against the NEP on nearly 80% of the applications studied. In CONE’s May 2000 report card, Mr. Krantz also scored an ‘F,’ having voted against the NEP in 100% of the cases reviewed for that study.

Region of Peel representative Richard Paterak has been one of the most vocal and consistent NEP defenders on the NEC. Mr. Paterak led the charge against allowing the spreading of sewage sludge on Escarpment lands. He has also been one of the most knowledgeable Commissioners on aggregate pits and quarries. His grade is ‘A.’

The County of Dufferin was represented by two individuals over the study period. Both the former representative Jim Turner and the current one Dave Baldwin have been consistent in their support for the Plan, receiving ‘A’ grades.

County of Simcoe representative Ian Lang scored the only ‘A+’ on this report, having voted in support of the NEP on all but one of the cases reviewed.

The County of Grey and the County of Bruce are represented by two individuals who routinely ignore NEP provisions. Township of Georgian Bluffs Mayor Larry Miller for Grey and Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula Councillor Betsy Stewart for Bruce voted against the NEP for 86% and 78% of the studied cases respectively. Both received ‘F’ grades.

Advocating for strong appointments by Cabinet to the NEC is one of CONE’s core activities. Our efforts paid off recently with the appointment in July of three new pro-NEP public-at-large members. We will be meeting soon with representatives of the new Liberal government to ensure good appointments in the future. A critical time for the Commission is coming: In February 2004, 12 of the 17 current members’ terms expire, including all of the municipal representatives listed above. A full report card, including grades for the public-at-large members, is planned for January 2004.