I am writing to strongly…

I am writing to strongly oppose the proposal to remove lands from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park in order to facilitate the Town of Wasaga Beach’s Tourism Enhancement Proposal.

Removing lands from a provincial park sets a deeply troubling precedent. While Algonquin Provincial Park was originally established in 1893 partly to protect logging interests from settlement, it was also created to safeguard the headwaters of several rivers — laying the foundation for Ontario’s provincial park system. Today, Ontario’s provincial parks collectively protect an area larger than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined. This is a legacy to be celebrated and preserved, not dismantled.

One of the stated objectives of provincial parks, as outlined on OntarioParks.ca, is:
"To permanently protect representative ecosystems, biodiversity, and provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage and to manage these areas to ensure that ecological integrity is maintained."
To remove any lands from a provincial park for the purpose of “boosting tourism” is in direct contradiction of this mandate. Provincial park lands are intended to be protected in perpetuity, not traded away for short-term economic projects.

When the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act was passed in 2006, the stated goal was to strengthen the legislative framework for the management of protected areas, with ecological integrity as the top priority. This proposal does not align with that principle. In fact it actively undermines it.

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park already enjoys significant popularity. According to 2019 statistics posted on OntarioParks.ca, it was the top summer visitation park in Ontario. The area already offers a wide range of accommodations — motels, hotels, and countless cottages ranging from budget-friendly to luxury rentals. As someone who lived between Collingwood and Wasaga Beach for five years, I can say from experience that the real challenge is inadequate infrastructure, not a lack of tourist attractions.

In the current economic climate, many Ontarians are struggling with basic affordability. Wasaga Beach itself faces pressing social challenges, including addiction and housing instability. This proposal appears to prioritize a small number of wealthy visitors over the needs of existing residents and local businesses.

The environmental stakes are also high. According to Birds Canada, “The critical natural beach habitat at Wasaga has produced half of the province’s Piping Plover fledglings since 2007.” The proposed changes put this already vulnerable species at even greater risk of extinction in Ontario.

Finally, removing lands from the park raises serious concerns about public access. If these lands are privatized, there will be even fewer opportunities for Ontarians to experience nature firsthand, despite clear evidence that time in nature is directly linked to improved mental health and life satisfaction.

As an environmental technologist in training, I have seen firsthand how vital it is to take environmental stewardship seriously. This proposal disregards the ecological, social, and legislative principles that our provincial parks system was built upon. I urge the Government of Ontario to reject this plan and uphold the integrity and permanence of our protected lands.