I am strongly opposed to the…

I am strongly opposed to the proposed amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act to support the Town of Wasaga Beach’s “tourism enhancement proposal” and the transferring of Provincial Park beach to the Town. These changes have the potential to be detrimental to the town both economically and environmentally. The changes to the Act also sets a dangerous precedent for provincial parks across Ontario.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park’s beaches are specially managed by them.  Wasaga Beach is a relict beach, meaning that the sand came from the ice age and does not replenish.  By keeping areas protected (e.g. The Point) and areas with minimal disturbance (e.g. grass between Beach Area 1 Parking lot and the beach) the Park is ensuring that the beach even exists.  If not for these protected areas, the damage caused by people walking on the marram grass (which can be killed by just 30 pass through in 24 hours) in the dunes and raking the beach could be detrimental. Without these undisturbed areas, the sand would eventually blow away.  It would also raise the water table so that the beach actually becomes a “wet beach,” which can lead to widespread growth of weeds.  By selling the proposed areas to the Town and developing these areas, or attracting people to use these areas more, the town would actually see a decrease in tourism as there would be no beach. 

We can see the impact that development has on the incredibly important dune systems if we look back to the 1970s. During this time, the parking lot and day use area were located in Beach Area 1.  The parking lots, developments including washrooms and picnic areas, and associated public use all but destroyed dune plant communities. The nature reserve zone was added to address the issue, contributing to substantial rebounding of the dunes and plants.  Even if just the parking area is opened up to development, the additional public use associated with the development will undo the improvements made and cause major destruction to the fragile dune system, habitat of endangered piping plovers and other vulnerable species.

The Park also has a carefully decided beach management plan that balances both tourist/public use and wildlife use. A key feature of Wasaga beach is that it is one of exceptionally few breeding sites for the endangered piping plover. In 1986, bird was considered extirpated (meaning they were no longer found in Ontario) and their population was mere dozens due to habitat loss from shoreline development and recreational use on top of their natural challenges such as predators. However, in 2007, they finally nested in Ontario thanks to conservation efforts in both Canada and the U.S. Since then, piping plover populations have slowly increased. This, however, does not mean that conservation efforts can stop, it just means that conservation efforts are working. Since 2007, Wasaga Beach has been significantly important to the success of these birds. There has been 59 nests and 87 fledglings, making up half of Ontario’s fledglings! 56 of the 59 nests have been in Beach Area 1, largely because of the way the Park manages this location as. For instance, not raking and leaving detritus (organic matter) when plovers are nesting, as much of their food source (invertebrates) thrives in the detritus and shorelines. Without the carefully thought out beach management, the birds likely would not survive here.

Additionally, with the proposed development would be detrimental to these birds as one of their main threats is recreation and development. We saw the negative impact of disturbing piping plover habitat recently in Sauble Beach. The Town of Sauble carelessly raked and bulldozed the beach and dunes. The plovers have not nested there since. The Town was also charged for damaging an endangered species habitat, costing them millions.

Unlike Sauble Beach, the Town of Wasaga Beach and Ontario should be proud to have these rare birds nesting here year after year, representing successful conservation efforts. The piping plovers also bring in tourists to the town. As a volunteer for the Ontario Piping Plover Conservation Program, I have talked to countless visitors to Wasaga Beach that have travelled far distances just for the chance to see and photograph the endangered piping plovers. Birders and photographers flock here every year for them.  The proposed changes and plan plan is for tourism, but the Provincial Park is attracting tourists by protecting endangered species.

Piping plovers aren’t the only endangered species in the park that would be affected. In August of 2024, Wasaga Beach Town Council passed a discussed a transfer of Beach Areas 1, 2, part of Beach Area 4, and all of the remaining non-beach areas and non-environmentally sensitive parcels of land. At a recent Wasaga Beach announcement, references were made to this current transfer being a first step.  It seems like the true intent is to transfer additional lands beyond the initial 60 hectares. This would be detrimental to these other species like the Eastern Hognose Snake, Hill’s thistle, and rams head orchid to name a few.

Finally, the lands discussed in this proposal are susceptible to flooding. It would make no sense to develop on these lands as this could lead an incredibly dangerous situation leading to potentially extensive property damage, injuries, and possible deaths. The risk is simply not worth it.

I strongly urge the government to not go ahead with the proposed changes to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and the transfer of lands out of the Provincial Parks system. People love coming to Wasaga to enjoy the combination of beaches and nature. This would not be possible without the Provincial Park. People do not want this town to be turned into a large development that truly would ruin the essence of Wasaga Beach. Please do not go forward with these changes and plans.