To Whom It May Concern, I am…

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally oppose the proposal by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming (MTCG) to remove significant portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park from the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA), including Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, Allenwood Beach, and Nancy Island, and to transfer them either to municipal control or under the Heritage Properties Act (HPA) for tourism-related development.

1. Irreplaceable Greenspace and Public Access to Nature

The proposed removal and sale of parkland will result in the irreversible loss of valuable public greenspace. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is not only a recreational hub but an essential natural asset to both the local community and the broader region. These beach areas provide open, accessible space for residents and visitors to connect with nature, recreate safely, and enjoy Ontario’s freshwater coast.

Removing these areas from protected status weakens their long-term environmental integrity and opens the door to over-commercialization and privatization, undermining decades of responsible land stewardship.

2. Responsibility to People Over Profit

The government’s role is to serve the public interest—not short-term economic interests or the agendas of developers. The proposal frames this land transfer as an opportunity to "increase tourism and attract investment." While economic development is important, it must not come at the cost of public natural resources, especially those that have been protected since the park’s establishment in 1959.

The current proposal shifts priorities away from ecological preservation and equitable public access toward tourism-driven profit, with no clear guarantees that development will not degrade the natural environment or limit public use.

3. Threat to Endangered Species, Including the Piping Plover

Crucially, Wasaga Beach is a nesting site for the endangered piping plover, a federally protected species. These birds are highly sensitive to disturbance, and their survival depends on the preservation of undisturbed beach habitat.

Any development—especially in Beach Areas 1 and 2—poses a direct threat to their habitat. The piping plover’s presence in Wasaga Beach is not just an ecological fact but a conservation responsibility under both provincial and federal law. This proposal, by removing lands from PPCRA protections, significantly weakens the mechanisms that ensure these species are safeguarded.

4. Risk of Precedent and Erosion of Environmental Protections

This proposal sets a dangerous precedent for undermining the protection status of provincial parkland. If greenspace within a longstanding provincial park like Wasaga Beach can be transferred, sold, or reclassified for economic gain, what is to stop similar actions elsewhere across Ontario?

Legislation like the PPCRA exists to protect our parks from precisely this kind of erosion. Weakening this framework to serve development interests is a betrayal of the public trust.

5. Call for Genuine Community Engagement and Environmental Leadership

While the proposal references public consultation, it is critical that these consultations are not merely performative. The overwhelming majority of Ontarians value their parks, green spaces, and biodiversity. I urge the Ministry to prioritize these values and reject this proposal.

Instead of removing park status, I recommend the government invest in environmentally responsible upgrades, conservation education, and sustainable tourism models that protect Wasaga’s unique ecology—without compromising its protected status.

I strongly oppose this proposal. It represents a short-sighted and damaging departure from Ontario’s long-held environmental values. I urge the government to withdraw the proposed amendments and instead reaffirm its commitment to Wasaga Beach as a protected provincial park, serving the public good and safeguarding species like the piping plover for generations to