I am writing to express deep…

I am writing to express deep concern with the proposal to remove Beach Areas 1 and 2, New Wasaga and Allenwood Beach, from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to transfer to the Municipality of Wasaga Beach for development.
Provincial parks in Ontario are managed with ecological health as the guiding priority. Transferring these lands out of Ontario Parks management risks the degradation of sensitive habitats and long-standing approaches that already successfully accommodates public access and tourism with conservation.
The mature sand dunes in the proposed removal areas are critical habitat for Piping Plover, an endangered species listed under both the federal Species at Risk Act and the provincial Endangered Species Act. Removing this habitat from the expert oversight of Ontario Parks’ biologists risks the survival of this sensitive species. The municipality lacks the capacity and expertise to maintain sensitive features and protect species at risk.
Changing the legislation to make it easier for the province to remove and sell lands from protected parks and conservation reserves sets a dangerous precedent and runs counter to the public good, who derive huge benefits from protected areas.
Ontario’s protected areas network is under 11 per cent of the province’s total area, far below the 30 per cent target identified by conservation science as necessary to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and also recommended by the province’s own appointed protected areas group. Removing protected areas means going in the wrong direction of science, international commitments, and the public will.
Protected park lands belong to the public and are meant to be preserved forever for people and nature, not sold for development. Do the right thing: do not proceed with removing Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga and Allenwood Beach from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.