We are opposed to the…

We are opposed to the severance and sale of portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park and the World's Longest Freshwater Beach to the Town of Wasaga Beach for development.

Provincial Parks are paid for with our tax dollars for all to enjoy. They ensure the natural features such as the dunes, forests, erosion control, piping plovers and other species will remain in a natural state and be protected for us and future generations. Why does the Town of Wasaga Beach think that their ownership of these portions of the beach will make Wasaga Beach more of a world attraction? The beaches are preserved now for the benefit of all and this has always been the beauty of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park....anyone can spend an enjoyable day at this beach regardless of socioenomic status.

Development of beach lands or in close proximity to is self serving and short sighted by the Town of Wasaga Beach. A "World Class Attraction" does not require ownership of the beach. Development can be accomplished by the Town of Wasaga Beach to enhance infrastucture, hotels, tourist attractions and other ideas. The Town of Wasaga Beach already has an exciting history of special events such as concerts, volleyball tournaments, open markets, amusement, retail events, corvette cruise and so on. Why doesn't the province of Ontario provide the funds to establish the development goals of the Town of Wasaga Beach with development around the existing preserved beaches?

This government has sold the Ontario Science Centre, leased Ontario Place for 99 years for development to a foreign owned company for a spa, sought to permit construction and expansion into the protected Greenbelt under the guise of affordable housing, established Ministerial Zoning Orders to promote speedy construction and industry without public input and removed bike lanes. Conservation is not a strength of this government quite on the contrary. These agendas do not instill confidence that the natural beauty of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park will be maintained for us now and future generations. What will be lost cannot be regained.

Additionally, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is a thriving destination for all. Reducing it's size in additon to the aforementioned will also reduce affordable access to the existing World Class Destination which is the The World's Longest Freshwater Beach. Indeed, the Town of Wasaga Beach has an excellent slogan: The Beach is Just the Beginning! Why yes it is, and the Town of Wasaga Beach can use lands other than the environmentally sensitive beach for development. Development is incongruent with Preservation. Hands off Our Wasaga Beach Provincial Park!

And if this were to proceed, who is say that more development in the vicinity of the beach will be an attraction or a deterrent when the naturalness and protection of ecosystem is littered with development. For us and many others, Wasaga Beach Provincial Park IS the attraction. Please don't change this beautiful, cherished, preserved, historical, natural park.