I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed removal of Nancy Island and major beach areas (Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood) from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. These changes represent a serious threat to environmental protection, public access, and the long-term integrity of Ontario’s protected area system.

Removing lands from the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act effectively dismantles the legal safeguards currently in place for these ecologically sensitive areas. Transferring management to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, whose mandate prioritizes tourism and economic development over ecological preservation, places these lands at serious risk of overdevelopment and environmental degradation.

The removal of Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood significantly fragments Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. These are not peripheral areas — they are core recreational and ecological zones. Their exclusion from the park will reduce its functional capacity and compromise its role in protecting Lake Huron’s shoreline ecosystems and public access to natural spaces.

The proposed sale of Crown-owned lands to the Town of Wasaga Beach is deeply concerning. These lands belong to the people of Ontario and should not be transferred for commercial or tourism development without extensive public oversight and environmental impact assessments. Once sold, these lands are far more vulnerable to rezoning and private development, permanently altering the character and ecological health of the area.

While the proposal claims to “continue to protect natural and cultural heritage,” this assurance is not backed by any enforceable mechanisms under the proposed legislative changes. Removing these lands from the PPCRA, while promoting economic goals, clearly prioritizes development over protection. This is a dangerous reversal of the conservation principles that have guided Ontario park policy for decades.

This proposal appears to have been developed with limited transparency and no clearly stated consultation with Indigenous communities, despite the area’s known cultural and historical significance. Any changes to the status of protected lands must involve meaningful, prior consultation with Indigenous Nations and the broader public.

This proposal represents a significant and unjustified weakening of Ontario’s commitment to protected areas. It sets a dangerous precedent for the piecemeal dismantling of other provincial parks under the guise of economic development. I urge the government to reject this proposal and instead invest in the sustainable management and enhancement of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park within the existing conservation framework.