10 (1) During the course of the consideration of amendments to the Niagara Escarpment Plan, the Commission shall, (a) furnish each municipality within or partly within the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area with a copy of the proposed amendments and invite it to make comments thereon within such period of time, not being more than 60 days from the time the amendments are furnished to it, as is specified; (b) publish a notice, on a website of the Government of Ontario or a website managed by the Commission, notifying the public of the proposed amendments, indicating where a copy of the amendments, together with the material used in the preparation thereof mentioned in subsection (6), can be examined and inviting the submission of comments thereon within such period of time, not being more than 60 days from the time the notice is first published, as is specified; and (c) furnish copies of the proposed amendments to the advisory committees appointed under section 4 and invite the committees to make comments thereon within such period of time, not being more than 60 days from the time the amendments are furnished to them, as is specified.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6); 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table; 2009, c. 12, Sched. L, s. 7; 2023, c. 20, Sched. 11, s. 2 (1). Public meetings during comment period (1.1) During the time for making comments, the Commission may hold public meetings to promote public discussion of the proposed amendments.  2000, c. 26, Sched. L, s. 7 (3). Notice of public meetings (1.2) The Commission shall give notice of public meetings held under subsection (1.1) in such manner as the Commission considers appropriate.  2000, c. 26, Sched. L, s. 7 (3). Extension of time (2) The Commission may extend the time for making comments, before or after the expiration of the time, if it is of the opinion that the extension is necessary to ensure a reasonable opportunity for comments to be made.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Hearing officer (3) If written objections to the proposed amendments are received by the Commission before the expiration of the time for making comments, the Commission shall, and if no written objections are received within that time the Commission may, appoint one or more hearing officers for the purpose of conducting one or more hearings within the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area or in the general proximity thereof for the purpose of receiving representations respecting the proposed amendments by any person desiring to make representations.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6); 2000, c. 26, Sched. L, s. 7 (4). Notice of hearing (4) If one or more hearing officers are appointed under subsection (3) to conduct a hearing, they shall fix the time and place for the hearing and give notice of the hearing in such manner as they consider appropriate.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6); 2023, c. 20, Sched. 11, s. 2 (2). Time of hearing (5) The time fixed for any hearing under subsection (3) shall not be before the expiration of the time for making comments on the proposed amendments. 2023, c. 20, Sched. 11, s. 2 (3). Procedure at hearing (6) At a hearing under subsection (3), the persons proposing the amendments or their representatives shall present the proposed amendments and the justification therefor and shall make available for public inspection research material, reports, plans and the like that were used in the preparation of the amendments and, subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the hearing officers for the conduct of the hearing, the persons presenting the amendments and any other persons who make presentations at the hearing may be questioned on any aspect of the amendments by any interested person.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Application of Public Inquiries Act, 2009 (7) Section 33 of the Public Inquiries Act, 2009 applies to a hearing under subsection (3).  2009, c. 33, Sched. 6, s. 75. Report of hearing officers (8) Not more than 60 days after the conclusion of any hearings conducted under subsection (3), or within such extended time as the Commission may specify, the hearing officers shall report to the Commission a summary of the representations made at the hearings together with a report stating whether the proposed amendments should be accepted, rejected or modified, giving their reasons therefor, and shall at the same time furnish the Minister with a copy of the report.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Commission recommendations (9) After giving consideration to any comments received under subsection (1) and, if one or more hearings were conducted under subsection (3), after giving consideration to any report received under subsection (8), the Commission shall submit its recommendations on the proposed amendments to the Minister.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Inspection of report and recommendations (10) A copy of any report made under subsection (8) and a copy of the recommendations submitted to the Minister under subsection (9) shall be made available in the office of the Minister, in the offices of the Commission, in the office of the clerk of each municipality, the whole or any part of which is within the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area, and in such other offices and locations as the Minister determines, for inspection by any person desiring to do so.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Decision of Minister (11) After receiving the Commission’s recommendations under subsection (9), the Minister may refuse the proposed amendments or may approve the proposed amendments with any modifications that he or she considers desirable, unless, (a) in the opinion of the Minister, to do so would be inconsistent with any recommendations received under subsection (8) or (9); or (b) the Lieutenant Governor in Council requires the Minister to submit the proposed amendments to the Lieutenant Governor in Council because the Lieutenant Governor in Council is of the opinion that the amendments could have a significant impact on the purpose or objectives of the Niagara Escarpment Plan.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6); 2009, c. 12, Sched. L, s. 7. Submission of amendments to L.G. in C. (12) If amendments are not refused or approved by the Minister under subsection (11), the Minister shall submit the proposed amendments with his or her recommendations thereon to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Public notice (13) If, in the opinion of the Minister, the recommendations of the Minister to the Lieutenant Governor in Council are inconsistent with any recommendations received under subsection (8), the Minister shall give public notice of his or her recommendations and the Lieutenant Governor in Council shall allow a period of at least 21 days after the giving of the notice during which representations in writing can be made by anyone concerned to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Decision of L.G. in C. (14) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may refuse the proposed amendments or may approve the proposed amendments with any modifications that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers desirable.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6). Effect of approval (15) If amendments are approved by the Minister under subsection (11) or by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under subsection (14), the amendments form part of the Niagara Escarpment Plan for the Niagara Escarpment Planning Area.  1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6); 2009, c. 12, Sched. L, s. 7. Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y) 1999, c. 12, Sched. N, s. 4 (6) - 22/12/1999 2000, c. 26, Sched. L, s. 7 (3, 4) - 6/12/2000 2002, c. 17, Sched. F, Table - 1/01/2003 2009, c. 12, Sched. L, s. 7 - 14/05/2009; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 6, s. 75 - 1/06/2011 2023, c. 20, Sched. 11, s. 2 (1-3) - 04/12/2023