Protect our natural spaces…

Protect our natural spaces in Ontario. Don’t carve the heart out of Bigwind Lake Provincial Park!
I love connecting with nature, including camping. But I want to see more parks in Ontario, not over- development of existing protection.

This level and location of disturbance can’t happen without striking a blow to the ecological integrity of Bigwind, including species at Risk.
Ontario is required by law to follow the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserve Act (PPCRA) that mandates protected areas be managed with ecological integrity as the first priority and plans to maintain and increase ecological integrity over time. Ontario’s Endangered Species Act requires the protection of species at risk and their habitat. Ontario can’t obey these laws and go ahead and carve the heart out of Bigwind as currently proposed.
Instead, Ontario should be expanding its Park system. It currently has less than 11% protection, lagging behind many other jurisdictions like Nova Scotia, Alberta, BC, Quebec, NWT, and the Yukon that range from almost 14% to over 21%. Canada and other world conservation leaders are pledging to reach 30% protection by 2030 (science actually says the world needs 50% protection). By creating more parks, Ontario could meet both its nature stewardship responsibilities and provide the access to nature that people crave, without damaging existing parks. Please do not go ahead with the current proposal to convert Bigwind Lake Provincial Park to an operating Park. Instead, commit to increasing protection to 30%. Please do the right thing.