Get Involved in OLT Hearing for PW 218 20

OLT Case No.:            OLT-23-000388

OLT Case Name:       Plan Amendment PW 218 20 (Re)

Applicant:                   Columbia Northcliffe Campus Inc.

Description:               Application to amend the NEP to permit the use of the

                                      the property as a private secondary school with a max.

                                      of 1,000 students and 85 staff with an accessory

                                      gymnasium.

Reference No.:          PW 218 20

Property Address:   574 Northcliffe Avenue

Municipality:            (Former) Town of Dundas, City of Hamilton

OLT Case No.:            OLT-23-000679

OLT Lead Case No.:  OLT-23-000388

OLT Case Name:       Columbia Northcliffe Campus Inc. v. Ontario (NEC)

Applicant:                   Columbia Northcliffe Campus Inc.

Respondent:              Niagara Escarpment Commission

Subject:                       Refusal of a Development Permit Application

Description:                

To construct an addition for an accessory use (gymnasium) to an existing building former convent) and expand a private septic system to support a secondary school use proposed under Niagara Escarpment Plan Amendment PW 218 20                             

Reference No.:          W/P/2021-2022/487

Property Address:   574 Northcliffe Avenue

Municipality:            (Former) Town of Dundas, City of Hamilton

An Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing is a quasi-judicial proceeding where parties, participants, and the public address disputes under planning, land use, and related statutes. The Tribunal adjudicates appeals, applications, and objections—ranging from official plan amendments to minor variances—by taking evidence, hearing arguments, and issuing binding decisions. Hearings may be conducted virtually or in person, and follow structured procedural rules to ensure fairness and efficiency.

Stages of an OLT Hearing

1. Case Management Conference (CMC) - Scheduled for August 26, 2025

2. Mediation

3. Hearing on the Merits

4. Closing Submissions

5. Decision and Post-Hearing

Additional information regarding the current stage of this case is provided below and will be updated as the hearing progresses.  For more detailed guidance, refer to the OLT’s Hearings Guide and Tribunal Rules of Practice and Procedure.

There are 4 ways to be involved in an OLT hearing: 

Parties

Who they are

• Appellants (e.g., developers or property owners appealing a municipal decision)
• Respondents (e.g., the municipality, conservation authorities)
• Other entities granted party status by the Tribunal 

How they participate

• File all procedural materials and evidence in advance
• Present witnesses and expert evidence at the hearing
• Cross-examine other parties’ witnesses
• Make legal and planning submissions, including opening and closing statements
• Bring motions (e.g., for adjournment or costs) during the hearing process  

Participants

Who they are

• Individuals or community groups with a demonstrated interest in the matter who apply for and receive “participant” status

How they participate

• Submit a written participant statement for the Tribunal’s consideration (typically due 10 days before the hearing)
• Make a brief oral presentation summarizing their written statement
• Attend all hearing events and follow the proceedings
• Cannot introduce expert evidence, call witnesses, or cross-examine others  
   

Public Observers

Who they are

• Any member of the public who has not applied for party or participant status

How they participate

• Attend and observe all open hearing events
• Review the evidence and listen to presentations
• May not speak, file submissions, or question witnesses  

Witnesses

Who they are

• Persons (fact or expert) called by a party to give evidence under oath or affirmation 

How they participate

• Provide testimony and may be required to produce documents or other evidence
• Subject to direct examination by the calling party and cross-examination by other parties
• Can be compelled to attend via a Tribunal summons if necessary

Parties and Participants must register 10 business days in advance of the CMC to participate at any stage throughout the hearing.  If you miss the August 11 deadline in this case, you won't be able to participate at all throughout the duration of the hearing.

Persons other than the appellant(s), applicant, municipality or approval authority who wish to participate in the proceeding, either as a party or as a participant, are expected to file a written status request with the Tribunal to outline their interest in the proceeding.  The Party Status Request Form and Participant Status Request and Statement Form are available on the Tribunal’s website (https://olt.gov.on.ca/forms-submissions/). If you are requesting status, this form must be provided at least ten (10) days (by August 11, 2025, in this case) in advance of the Case Management Conference to the assigned Tribunal Case Coordinator Paul De Medeiros as well as others as explained on our How To Register page.

Visit our How To Register page for step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.

Tribunal proceedings are open to the public and all documents filed in a proceeding will be included in the Tribunal’s public file (except those documents that may be deemed confidential in accordance with the Ontario Land Tribunal’s Rule 22.1). 

For a step-by-step guide on how to register and avoid some common mistakes, visit our How to Register page.

Case Management Conference (CMC)

• Convened early in the process to scope and streamline issues.
• The presiding Member may:
  • Identify parties and participants
  • Define or narrow contested issues
  • Secure admissions of fact or evidence that can simplify the hearing
  • Set timelines for disclosure, witness statements, and expert reports
  • Establish dates, hearing length, and procedural directions
• No evidence is presented; afterward, a procedural order is issued to guide the remainder of the proceeding.  

The CMC for PW 218 20 will be a one-day video conference:

At:                              10:00 am

On:                             August 26, 2025

At:                              https://olt.gov.on.ca/legislation-and-rules/

Access Code:           519-389-173