Times-Advocate, 1978-10-19, Page 20 (2)Page 20
Times -Advocate, October 19, 1978
By JACK RIDDELL
MPP Huron -Middlesex
The Niagara Escarpment -
is the --result of sone 300
million years of erosion of
rock layers: its limestone,
cliffs and ridges curve
through Ontario from
Niagara Falls tq Tober-
mory. • Queenston Heights,
the rocky hills at the Forks
of the Credit and the cliffs of
the Brtfce Peninsula all
form .part of the Escarp-
ment. which is Well kuown
for its cliffs and caves.
forests and waterfalls - the
-home of rare rock ferns and
orchids. of turkey vultures
and eagles.
Ontario Government
brochures wax lyrical about
the natural wonders of the
Escarpment - "rock. forest
and wavewashed, cliffs.'
a
Debate escarpment plans
"unspoiled beauty". "some
of the most breath -taking
scenery to be found
anywhere in Ontario"
Some 10 "ears. ago.
planner Leonard Gertler. in
a study prepared for the
Provincial Government.
predicted in detail how
quickly the Escarpment
area would be taken over by
residential and industrial
development if the Govern-
inent did not take rapid and
effective action to prevent
the loss of escarpment land.
Vet- three years went by
before the government im-
posed temporary . • controls
and passed a Pits and
Quarries Controj Act
i criticized as bei g too
weak I Five years after the
Gertler Report. the Govern-
ment announced establish-
ment of the Niagara Escarp-
ment Commission. to be in
charge of long-term plan-
ning.
"During the five-year inter-
val. the Government spent
some $7 million to buy 20.000
acres on the Escarpment:
speculators had also been
veru active in the area.
The Commission Chair-
man has confirmed that
many applications to build
along the Escarpment were
received after the Commis-
sion was established. More
than 90'7 of the applications
were approved, albeit with
objections from some Com-
mission members.
There are three main
issues which have to be
_taken into account by the
Commission in attempting
to carry out its work.
(1% Over-all public good
versus the rights of the in-
dividuall9ndow•ner.:
(2) Different attitudes
with respect to land restric-
tions and the use of the
Escarpment. •
t 3 i. The assumption by the
Province of a land -use plan-
ning function which has
traditionally been left to
municipalities.
Last February. the Com-
mission published its
recommendations. which in-
cluded.' rougher quarrying
regulations: possible even-
tual shutdown of quarries
right in the Scarp zone:
protective agricultural
legislation for some farming
LADIES WEAR
409 MAIN STREET EXETER
OPENING SOON
WATCH NEXT WEEK'S T -A FOR DETAILS
PLAQUES ON DISPLAY - A large variety of crafts were on
display at Saturdays craft fair at lucan. Shown with a dis-
play of plaques are Vivian Boker and Jane Walker. T -A photo
WELCOME
The Employees
Glendale
Corporation
R.V. Division
(Strathroy)
To
Dental Plan 7
These employees and their families have good
reason to smile they have the best preven-
tive dental plan available today Everybody
agrees good teeth are one of the most impor-
tant factors in good health The Blue Cross
Dental Plan 7 was designed to provide basic
dental treatment to group subscribers includ-
ing such services as exarrtinations fillings and
x-rays. through extractions and anaesthesia
11. ONTARIO
As your Ontario Blue Cross
representative I bm pleased to
add my personal welcomeand
look forward t0 serving you
along with the many others in
this region already enjoying
the protection of a variety of
Blue Cross Plans .
Phil deBarros
227 Queens Avenue London Ontario N6A 1J8
(519i 439.4431
BLUE CROSS
A DIVISION Or THE ONTARIO HOSPI TAL ASSOCIATION
i
areas: a scenic resource
designation for 331,000
acres. with special develop-
ment control policies:
restrictions on housing
development along the shore,
of Lake Ontario: further
development of the Bruce
Trail: and 754 kilometres
t 468 miles) of scenic drives
along the Escarpment.
The Comntission'S
recommendations triggered
demonstrations and letter -
writing -campaigns. Conser-
vationists supported the
basic aims of the proposals.
but felt they didn't. go far
enough. Landowners along
the Escarpment called for -
the abolition of the Commis-
sion. - -
In May. the Provincial
Government and the Com-.
mission, responding to con-
siderable public pressure.
announced that the Escarp-
ment planning areawould be
reduced by 60`: . New boun-
daries will not. however. be
decided until the end of this
year.
The Niagara Escarpment
Planning and Development
Act expresses the intention
of the Legislature -that the
Escarpment should be main-
tained "substantially as a
continuous natural en-
vironment" and that only
Stich development should be
permitted as will be ='com-
patible with that natural en-
vironment".
There have been occasions
in the past when the Liberal
Caucus has differed with the
way 'in which the Commis-
sion has sought to imple-
ment this mandate. These
differences culminated in
the presentation of a Private
Member's. Bill by Robert
McKessock i MPP Grey)
last session which. if passed,
would have restricted the
Commission's control to the
Escarpment itself and 1.000
feet on either side .€
However. we have no
quarrel with. the Com-
mission's' gecision last April
whereby it refused to issue a
development permit to Can-
trakon Limited for an ex-
ecutive hotel and conference
centre at Caledon. The Com-
mission's reasons, sup-
ported on appeal by Hearing
Officer David Jamieson.
were compelling - namely.
that the site of the project is
antagonistic to the preserva-
tion of the Escarpment as a
continuous natural environ-
ment.
The Cantrakon projectais
an excellent idea - in the -
wrong.- place. We cannot
allow a major hotel complex
to be built on the face of the
Scarp itself. overlooking the
Forks of the Credit - one of
the most scenic. spots along
the entire Escarpment - and
hope to maintain public sup-
port Tor the preservation of
the Escarpment as part of
Ontario's heritage.
If this corporate retreat is
permitted. on what grounds
will other development be
denied? It is not difficult to
imagine an Escarpment
dotted with magnificent lux-
ury hotels and idyllic homes
from Queenston to Tober-
mory. But that is not what
the Legislature or the public
wants.
Housing Minister Claude.
Bennett was wrong to
override the decision of the
Commission and the
recommendation of the
Hearing Officer in this case.
His stated reason, was that
the project will be '.'of
economic benefit to the
area". He seems to be the
only person who feels that
particular area needs this
kind of economic benefit.
Ilis real reasons are to be
Mound in the report of the
Hearing Officer and in other
documentation. namely that
it would be a boost to the
commercial tourist in-
dustry.- It would indeed. and
we support it - but not on the
face of the Escarpment. .
izehrs
One thing about early
marriages is they shorten
the generation gap.
Gabian Stone
Calcium
Chloride
in 100 pound bags .
Sand & Stone
Gravel
Stone for
Weeping Beds_
EARL LIPPERT
TRUCKING LTD.
Crediton 23i4-6382
•
AVAILABLE IN
ORANGEVIL1E, BOLTON, •ALLISTON, INGERSOLL AND EXETER
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT PURCHASES
- - REG.
99¢
WESTCANE
ri
WHITE9
SUGAR 2 Kg. BAG
REG.
55.99
NESCAFE - 10 oz.
INSTANT7 8
COFFEE $111■
.
• REG.
93c
HEINZ - 20 oz.
TOMATO C
KETCHUP 6 9
FRESH ONTARIO PORK
SIDE SPARERIBS
. I c
,,
. .REG: _ ara 1).' ..A.:..4<,
51.89 Ib. Ib.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT PURCHASES