I am making this submission…

I am making this submission as a full-time resident of the Town of Wasaga Beach (43 years). For 18 of those years I worked as a Natural Resources Management Planner both in the public sector and as a consultant. As a result of that experience combined with a University Degree in Geography and Political Science I believe I have a comprehensive knowledge of and appreciation for the workings of and the importance of natural ecosystems as well as the critical role that governments must play in the protection of these ecosystems. This role of protecting these systems is becoming more and more difficult to implement given the ever increasing human population pressures being experienced in this region of Canada. I am also very aware of the importance of natural ecosystems to human health, both mental and physical and these benefits become ever more essential as our population increases.
It is widely known and accepted that the beach and dune ecosystems contained within the Municipality of Wasaga Beach are unique. Within the Province of Ontario they are provincially significant. That is why it is so logical that these two ecosystems are under the direct management of a provincial ministry. The Ontario Parks part of that ministry has a mandate to provide for the protection of the immense range of ecosystems and the biodiversity that they contain, that are found across the province. It also administers a mandate to provide for a wide range of recreational opportunities both for the residents of Ontario and for visitors to the province. Administering these two mandates requires that a balance be struck that sees the most sensitive environments and the species that survive in them the highest levels of protection.
Beach environments, by their nature, attract human activity. When the weather is suitable for sun, sand and water, people instinctively want to be at the beach. However, beaches are rare and they are notoriously sensitive natural environments. They are also very productive environments especially for a wide variety of shore birds some of which are not able to withstand human beach activities and management practices.
Ontario Parks has, to date, despite immense pressures from park users and a very pro urban development municipal council been able to keep a small portion of the 14 kms of Wasaga Beach in a natural enough state that the endangered Piping Plover has been able to maintain a small toe hold and to be the most productive of the Province’s small number of beach environments where this species continues to reproduce.
The municipalities desire to acquire Beach Area 1, 2 and New Wasaga (by transfer or purchase) will result in an extremely sensitive ecosystem moving from Provincially protected status to municipal ownership and management. Despite the municipalities current spinning of their intentions to continue the species protection programs currently in place for the Piping Plover there is no failsafe policy in place or being proposed that would guarantee the level of protection currently provided by the province. The current mayors “guarantee” to protect the natural ecosystem will disappear with the current mayor with the passage of time. This is political reality. With the municipality there is no ‘failsafe’ way of guaranteeing ongoing protection for any sensitive / endangered species. That is the nature of municipal governance.
It is incredibly troublesome that the current government has recently crippled the protection legislation for endangered species and is vigorously promoting a province wide heavily pro development at all costs ideology. Despite the Federal protection legislation, the future looks grim given the degree to which the federal government has, historically, looked to the provinces for implementation / enforcement of federal legislation / regulations.
Given the current re-develoment work that is currently underway on the beach front, the municipal is obviously strongly pro-develop. It defies logic to see how they will be able to marry that ideology with the level of protection that is required to maintain and enhance a natural, productive beach environment. The siren song of ‘build baby build’ will be irresistible and the Wasaga Beach with its natural amenities I have grown to love will disappear.
Therefore, I urge in the strongest possible terms, Ontario Parks and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks not to proceed with the transfer, either by sale or outright gift, of any of the Wasaga Beach waterfront land to the Town of Wasaga Beach.