Clearview’s deputy mayor takes Simcoe’s NEC seat
Creemore Deputy Mayor Barry Burton is now representing Simcoe County on the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC).
The seat has been vacant since Clearview councillor Shawn Davidson finished his term in October. Burton said the mayor put his name forward, and it was approved by county council before he was appointed to the role by the province.
His first meeting is next week but Burton has completed the orientation process. He said his role will be to review development applications for quarries, tree cutting and other development that affects Niagara Escarpment land, applying the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act (NEPDA) without bias.
Clearview Township is still appealing an NEC decision to deny permission to complete upgrades to a road near the Walker Industries quarry in Duntroon but Burton says he will not necessarily be an advocate for Clearview, his job is to uphold the legislation.
“I am looking forward to learning about the Act and how it affects development and working with various municipalities to deal with issues concerning the Niagara Escarpment Plan,” said Burton.
A proposed expansion of the Niagara Escarpment Plan was part of a provincially-led process to grow the Greenbelt but with a switch in provincial government, that may change.
The NEC was established in 1973 under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act.
The NEPDA established a planning process to ensure the protection and preservation of the Niagara Escarpment, contributing significantly to Ontario’s health, economic development and environmental sustainability.
The NEC is a statutory body that operates at arms-length from the provincial government in accordance with the NEPDA and the Agency Establishment and Accountability Directive under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
The NEC is mandated to develop, interpret and apply policies that maintain and enhance the vitality of the Escarpment’s unique environmental and landscape features.
Its decisions are made independently, impartially, and according to a risk management framework.
The NEC has 17 members appointed by Order-in-Council. Nine members, including the chair, represent the public-at-large and eight municipally-elected members represent counties, cities and regions within the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP) area.
The Commission meets monthly to consider development permits and land use proposals, policy items, and NEP amendments.
Meetings are open to the public and are usually held as the NEC’s main office in Georgetown. The Commission reports to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
