I say ‘NO’ to the giveaway…

To whom it may concern:

I say ‘NO’ to the giveaway or sell-off of Ontario’s provincial park land to municipalities or any other entity for the purpose of development.

Ontario’s provincial parks are meant to be protected forever in order to provide sanctuary, and recreation areas for the people of Ontario, and to maintain the ecosystems and habitats for the plants, animals, insects and microorganisms that inhabit these areas.

Only 9% of Ontario land is devoted to its provincial park system. (1) The Ontario government should be increasing the amount of land devoted to the provincial park system, not reducing it, given that Canada has promised to place 30% of its lands and waters under environmental protection by 2030.

Wasaga Beach, with its fresh water sand dunes is an important habitat for the endangered Piping Plover, and for other seabirds, such as the Killdeer, as well as plant species such as Marram grass, Beach Pea and Sand Cherry. Marram grass is especially well adapted to protect the sand dunes from the strong winds and fierce storms of Georgian Bay, helping to mitigate flooding and the loss of sand. “Fresh water dunes, like those at Wasaga Beach, are such a rare ecosystem, they are considered to be globally ‘imperilled’”. (2)

I grew up in Collingwood in the 1960s and 70s, and have very fond memories of spending many summer afternoons at Wasaga Beach, swimming in its beautiful, shallow water, building sand castles on the beach and watching the sea birds running to the water’s edge to look for insects and whatever small edibles they could find in the sand as the waves receded.

I have always known that Wasaga Beach is the longest fresh water beach in the world. It wasn’t, however, until I became aware that the Ford government is planning to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act of 2006 to allow up to 60% of its shoreline to be developed, that I came to understand what a unique, rare and ecologically important ecosystem it truly is. It needs to be treasured, protected and kept intact. No part of Wasaga, or any other provincial park should be open to development.

The proposal to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, and Historical Parks Act to support the town of Wasaga Beach’s Tourism Enhancement Proposal must be rejected.