I do not agree with this…

I do not agree with this proposal. The removal of Beach Area 1, 2 and New Wasaga from the Provincial Park and SALE of the land to the Town of Wasaga Beach is against the Provincial Park and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA). As an Ontarian, this proposal offends me deeply. The purpose of the PPCRA "...is to permanently protect a system of provincial parks and conservation reserves that includes ecosystems that are representative of all of Ontario’s natural regions, protects provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage, maintains biodiversity and provides opportunities for compatible, ecologically sustainable recreation. 2006, c. 12, s. 1." Residing the protection the a large portion of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for economic gain is not "PERMANENT PROTECTION." Boosting tourism is not a legitimate reason to rescind provincial park regulation. An argument can be made that the Beach being a provincial park is a tourism draw. The likelihood that ecological integrity of the beach will be impacted and harmed is also high and therefore is also against the PPCRA. The proposal is morally wrong and a disaster for the environment - which is disappointing coming from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

Furthermore the proposal outline the removal of protection and disposition of more than 1 percent of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park's area. The PPCRA states that dispositions of an area of a provincial park 1 per cent or more of that total area of the provincial park can only occur if:
"(a) the disposition is made as part of a settlement of a claim in respect of aboriginal rights;
(b) the land being disposed of is being added to a national park under the Canada National Parks Act or a marine conservation area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act; or
(c) the disposition is being made as part of a transaction that increases the size of the provincial park or conservation reserve and enhances ecological integrity. 2006, c. 12, s. 9 (5)."
Selling the proposed areas to the Town of Wasaga Beach for economic gain and development does not align with the exceptions outlined in the PPCRA. Additionally, sole sourcing the sale to the Town of Wasaga Beach does not align with the Infrastructure Ontario's disposition of land policies. Dispositions of Crown land of this size must be cycled through the appropriate list of potential interested parties for expression of interest of purchase and bids. This proposed removal of protection and transfer of Crown land is inappropriate and against legislation.

This proposed sale of PROTECTED land for development and tourism purposes is against the purpose, objectives and overall intent of the PPCRA. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, and all parks in this province, are established to preserve Ontario's natural landscapes, protect biodiversity and provide current and future Ontarians' with a place to connect with nature in perpetuity. That means permanently and forever!

The province's protected areas system is under attack at every turn and is dying a death of a thousand cuts. From allowing non-compatible recreational activities to occur (motorized vehicles, rock-climbing, mountain biking, snowmobiling) in sensitive areas, to removing formal environmental evaluation and assessment of impacts of projects within provincial parks and conservation reserves. The checks and balances are systematically being removed so that proposal like this have an easier path to approval.

The removal of Endangered Species protection through the passing of Bill 5 has made it easier for the Town to development Beach Areas 1 and 2. The endangered Piping Plovers have only recently returned in 2007, after a 30-year absence. Wasaga Beach Area 1 has been the most successful nesting site in Ontario hosting 54 nests since 2008. Bill 5 significantly narrowed the definition of species at risk habitat including that for the piping plover. Removing the provincial park protection from this area will further impact the recovery efforts and likely the damage long term success of the species.

Provincial parks also provide intangible ecosystem services that humans rely on. The beach at Wasaga Beach and the dune system, that is currently protected under the PPCRA, protect the public and private lands against erosion and flooding and keeps the beach sandy. Allowing development to occur closer to the water edge and removing back dunes, the province is inviting more frequent natural occurrence that will cost millions in damages and millions more ultimately to manage in the long run.

I do not support this proposal. I think it is ethically wrong for the province to even propose such a thing. The proposal only mentioned the potential benefits but mentions nothing of the potential negative impacts - of which there are many. This proposal should be scrapped.