I am writing as a long-time…

I am writing as a long-time cottage owner in the Wasaga Beach area to express my profound concern over the recent efforts to remove or weaken environmental protections within Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. This area is not only a cornerstone of Ontario’s natural heritage and a vital habitat for threatened species, but it is also central to the lives of thousands of residents and seasonal visitors like myself, whose families have enjoyed its natural beauty for generations.

I am especially troubled to see these moves come in the wake of previous attempts to remove protections from Ontario’s Greenbelt—an effort that was widely criticized by environmental experts and the public alike. The pattern of targeting safeguarded natural areas for potential development deeply undermines public trust and raises serious questions about the long-term commitment to conservation in our province.

The removal or weakening of protections from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park risks irreversible harm: it threatens sensitive dune ecosystems, accelerates erosion, and endangers wildlife. It also compromises the economic and recreational value that the park provides to local communities and to Ontarians more broadly.

I strongly urge you to reconsider these proposed changes and instead reaffirm a commitment to protecting Wasaga Beach Provincial Park in perpetuity. Further, I ask that your ministry engage openly with local residents, cottagers, Indigenous communities, and conservation scientists before any decisions are finalized.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this important matter. I look forward to your response and sincerely hope to see the province uphold its responsibility to protect our shared natural heritage.