OFA fully endorses Niagara Region’s proposal for changes regarding how agriculture-related uses, on-farm diversified uses, and wineries are permitted in the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP, 2017). OFA believes that the Niagara Escarpment Commission’s role in development approval is unnecessary in 2019, and simply serves to add red tape, costs and delays to development applications, particularly agriculture related development applications. OFA therefore recommends that the Niagara Escarpment Commission cease to exercise any role in development approval. OFA also recommends that ministerial oversight for the Niagara Escarpment Plan be transferred from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. OFA encourages these changes to the Niagara Escarpment Plan and Niagara Escarpment Commission to reduce red tape and support the thriving agri-food economic powerhouse in the Niagara Region.