To whom it may concern, …

To whom it may concern,

These proposals undermine the long-term protection of public parkland and set a dangerous precedent for conservation in Ontario.

I believe there are multiple issues with the proposals. They are outlined below:

Loss of Protected Parkland:
Removing Nancy Island and major portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park (Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach) from the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) strips these areas of the highest level of environmental protection currently afforded to them.

Weakened Environmental Oversight:
Transferring oversight from the Ministry of the Environment to the Ministry of Tourism shifts the focus from conservation to commercial development. The Heritage Properties Act (HPA) does not offer the same environmental safeguards as the PPCRA.

Privatization Risk:
Selling Crown land to the Town of Wasaga Beach opens the door to privatization, development, and potential future resale—reducing public access and risking overdevelopment along Ontario’s sensitive shoreline.

Irreversible Environmental Impact:
The affected beach areas are ecologically significant and part of Ontario’s biodiversity. Development could damage dunes, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, particularly for threatened species that rely on this unique ecosystem.

Public Trust Erosion:
Ontario’s parks are held in trust for future generations. Downsizing a provincial park for short-term tourism and investment goals erodes public confidence in the government’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

In short, while the government claims their proposals supporteconomic growth, they risk sacrificing vital protected lands and ecosystems for commercial interests—jeopardizing the environmental integrity and public benefit of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.