Subject: Opposition to ERO …

Subject: Opposition to ERO #025-0694 – Proposed Amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (Wasaga Beach Provincial Park)

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed legislative amendments under ERO #025-0694 that would remove significant portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, specifically Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach, from protection under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA) and transfer or sell Crown land to the Town of Wasaga Beach.

1. Undermining the Integrity of Ontario’s Protected Lands Framework

The PPCRA was created to ensure that provincial parks and conservation reserves are “protected and managed to maintain their ecological integrity.” The proposed removal of beach areas and transfer of Crown lands for tourism development is in direct contradiction to this mandate. If enacted, this would mark one of the largest sell-offs of protected shoreline in Ontario’s history.

2. Loss of Public Trust and Precedent Setting

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, established in 1959 and encompassing over 1,800 hectares, is not only an environmental asset but a public trust. It currently represents one of the longest freshwater beaches in the world, a rare natural feature that draws millions of visitors annually. According to Ontario Parks, the beach has attracted over 1.5 million visitors per year, with significant economic benefits already tied to its protected status.

Transferring and privatizing these lands risks setting a precedent where public parkland can be reclassified and sold whenever local redevelopment interests arise, eroding public confidence in the permanence and integrity of protected areas.

3. Environmental and Climate Risk

Lake Huron’s shoreline is an environmentally sensitive zone facing increasing pressures from erosion, flooding, and climate change. Removing these areas from the provincial parks system undermines long-term stewardship and increases the likelihood of overdevelopment in a high-risk floodplain. It is unclear how the Town’s tourism enhancement plan will align with provincial climate adaptation strategies or shoreline resiliency standards.

4. False Tradeoff Between Conservation and Economic Development

Tourism and conservation are not mutually exclusive. In fact, Ontario’s own data shows that parks contribute over $800 million annually to the provincial economy, much of it tied to sustainable recreation, not commercial development. Investing in enhanced park infrastructure, accessibility, and ecological programming within the existing PPCRA framework would support both tourism and conservation goals without sacrificing protected lands.

5. Insufficient Public Consultation and Transparency

While the proposal mentions outreach, a 45-day consultation period during the summer months, when many stakeholders are away, limits meaningful public engagement. There is also no clear long-term management plan made publicly available that details how cultural and ecological values will be upheld post-transfer. These changes warrant a far more robust, transparent, and inclusive consultation process.

Recommendations:
• Reject the removal of Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
• Retain Crown ownership of all beach areas and continue their management under the PPCRA.
• Conduct a full environmental impact assessment and shoreline risk study before considering any changes.
• Explore tourism investments that strengthen — rather than compromise — the ecological and public value of protected lands.

Ontario’s protected areas system is not a land bank for municipal redevelopment. Once these lands are removed from protection, they cannot be restored. I urge the government to reconsider this proposal in the long-term interest of environmental stewardship, public access, and intergenerational equity.