To whom it may concern, I am…

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to ERO Proposal 025-0694, which seeks to remove multiple significant areas—including Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach—from the boundaries of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, and to transfer the administration of Nancy Island from the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 (PPCRA) to the Historical Parks Act.

This proposal is deeply concerning for the following reasons:

1. Threat to Protected Ecosystems and Species at Risk

The areas targeted for removal from the park include sensitive sand dune systems, rare wetlands, and vital habitat for endangered species, such as the piping plover. These ecosystems are not just recreational backdrops—they are environmentally significant zones that require strong legal protections under the PPCRA. Removing these lands from provincial park status weakens those protections and increases the risk of habitat loss due to future development.

2. Irreversible Loss of Public Parkland

Wasaga Beach is among the most visited provincial parks in Ontario. It is public land, held in trust for the enjoyment and benefit of all Ontarians—now and in the future. Divesting nearly one-third of this park to local or private interests risks diminishing public access and eroding the park’s integrity. Once sold, this land is unlikely to ever be recovered as protected space.

3. Inadequate Environmental and Cultural Safeguards

While the proposal suggests that heritage management under the Historical Parks Act will enhance Nancy Island’s tourism potential, it fails to guarantee continued ecological protection at a level comparable to the PPCRA. Heritage designation is not an environmental safeguard, and there is no assurance that the natural features of Nancy Island will be protected from degradation over time.

4. Setting a Dangerous Precedent for Parkland Divestiture

If this proposal proceeds, it could open the door to future reclassifications or removals of protected areas elsewhere in the province. The public has long relied on the stability and permanence of Ontario’s park system. Undermining that stability in favor of economic redevelopment sends a clear message that no parkland is safe from sale or political expediency.

5. Lack of Meaningful Public and Indigenous Consultation

This proposal was introduced with limited public notice and a short comment window, during the summer when many Ontarians are away or less able to participate in civic engagement. Indigenous nations, local communities, environmental experts, and the broader public deserve to be genuinely consulted—not simply offered a post-hoc opportunity to comment on a nearly finalized policy direction.

In Closing

Ontario parks are not assets to be divested for short-term economic gain. They are long-term investments in ecological health, public well-being, and shared heritage. I urge the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to withdraw ERO 025-0694 and seek a more balanced, transparent, and conservation-oriented path forward—one that respects both the ecological significance and the public ownership of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.