As a resident of Wasaga…

As a resident of Wasaga Beach of 23 years, I oppose the selling of protected park land and am affronted by the provincial and municipal government's insistence and preparedness to do so.

We are currently in the midst of worsening climate conditions that only grow more severe. As of last week, there are more than 700 active wildfires in Canada according to the Guardian (Bowden, 2025). Proposing to cede vital, protected environmental zones to corporate development in the best of circumstances is inappropriate, but given the current situation, maintaining and preserving the provincial parkland of Wasaga Beach is of the utmost necessity for vulnerable wildlife populations, as well as quality of life for our human populace as well.

Beyond environmental considerations, one of the greatest assets of the tourism sector in Wasaga Beach is the existence of these protected environmental zones. The integration of the education and maintenance surrounding these environmental zones is a fairly significant draw for tourists into Wasaga Beach; the natural beauty of the local environment and our commitment to its preservation for all to enjoy is what people travel here for. Not to sound cynical, but people do not travel to Wasaga Beach to admire the congested highways, the parking lots or the local addition of hotel chains. People travel to Wasaga Beach because of the small-town charm as well as the chance to step away from bustling metropolises and appreciate the natural beauty this town offers and is supposed to value. The justification of "tourism enhancement" rings hollow when discussing auctioning off protected environmental zones because it is made clear that the administration is either unaware of the value these zones provide the community and the tourist sector, or suggests that the administration only values these lands in their potential to turn a quick profit that will only reap a sparse benefit with their destruction.

Bowden, O. (2025, August 7). Canada wildfires prompt severe air quality alerts across country and US. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/04/canada-wildfires-air-qual…