I'm incredibly upset that…

I'm incredibly upset that the ON government is trying to take away a very large chunk of Provincial Park lands at Wasaga for the purpose of turning it into resorts. This is yet another example of Doug Ford and his government paving over nature to develop it into resort space that only the very privileged and wealthy can afford. This will not benefit Ontario residents other than Ford's developer friends.

As an Ontario resident who is lower income, I've spent time at Wasaga Beach over the years and have wonderful memories of my time there. I've spent hot summer days cooling off in the clear and shallow water, walking along the wooden boardwalk and along the water's edge. This beach is an absolute gem and it's wonderful that it's fairly accessible regardless of income or financial situation. It's been a few years since I was there but I believe it was much cheaper or even free to park further down the beach. This made it possible for my partner and I to enjoy a day at Wasaga despite our financial situation. A livable and thriving province must have affordable ways to access nature especially as Ontario becomes more and more unaffordable for many. Nature is not just for the wealthy.

Not only will development of part of Wasaga affect how people access nature, it will also affect the habitats of animals that live there. We need to respect the animals we share this land with. We can't keep developing all of the green and natural space without it causing harm to the animals who live there. And for the humans who want to enjoy this beautiful Provincial park, it's already crowded and busy during peak summer months, just imagine how overcrowded and unpleasant it will become with land taken away for development.

We are living in a climate emergency and as temperatures continue to rise, it's crucial that we have access to clean, fresh water to swim in to stay cool.

For these reasons and more, I hope you'll reconsider this decision. Keep Wasaga out of the hands of developers!