As a Master’s graduate in…

As a Master’s graduate in Sustainability Studies and a professional working in the field of environmental and nature-based tourism, I strongly oppose the proposed legislative amendments that would facilitate the Town of Wasaga Beach’s Tourism Enhancement Proposal.

These amendments set a dangerous precedent by weakening long-standing environmental protections embedded in the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and the Historical Parks Act—protections that exist specifically to safeguard Ontario’s most ecologically and culturally significant areas from short-term economic interests. Modifying this legislation to accommodate development in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, particularly without a full environmental assessment and extensive public consultation, undermines the province’s commitment to sustainability, conservation, and climate resilience.

My professional experience has taught me that true tourism enhancement must align with ecological integrity. Nature-based tourism thrives not despite protected natural spaces, but because of them. Degrading a provincial park—one of the most heavily visited and ecologically unique shoreline ecosystems in Ontario—risks irreversible damage to the very natural features that draw people to Wasaga Beach in the first place. Paving over dunes, building infrastructure within sensitive habitats, or compromising the shoreline could lead to significant biodiversity loss, erosion, and the diminishing of long-term tourism potential.

As someone with a deep understanding of sustainability principles, I urge the provincial government to consider alternative ways to support local economic development without dismantling core environmental protections. Conservation and tourism are not mutually exclusive—but they must be balanced with integrity and foresight.

I respectfully request that these legislative changes be rejected in their current form. Ontario’s parks and reserves are not bargaining chips; they are legacies that must be preserved for future generations.