I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the Ontario government’s proposal to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation and Historical Parks Act to support the Town of Wasaga Beach’s Tourism Proposal, which would remove nearly one-third (645 acres) of protected parkland for private development. This plan is deeply troubling, not only for its environmental implications but also for the precedent it sets in sacrificing public natural heritage for short-term commercial gain.

Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is a protected area that belongs to all Ontarians. It is home to vital ecosystems, including nesting grounds for the endangered piping plover, a species already under significant threat. Turning over these irreplaceable public lands, especially Beach Areas 1 and 2, New Wasaga, Allenwood, and Nancy Island to developers would irreparably harm biodiversity and undermine decades of conservation work.

Environmental protection needs to remain a priority. Parks are not empty spaces waiting to be monetized, they are living landscapes that provide critical habitats, mitigate climate change, and offer all citizens equal access to recreation and natural beauty. Transforming them into condos, luxury hotels, and private homes would create an exclusive, privatized beachfront out of land meant for public good.

Boosting tourism should not come at the cost of environmental destruction. Sustainable tourism that respects ecological limits and centers community input is both possible and necessary. We need to find ways to enhance the visitor experience that doesn't involve bulldozing rare ecosystems or giving developers public assets.

I urge the Ontario government to protect Wasaga Beach Provincial Park in its entirety and reject any legislative changes that enable its exploitation. Once we lose these natural treasures, we cannot get them back.