I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed amendments that would remove Nancy Island and Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park protection.

This proposal represents a dangerous erosion of Ontario's protected areas system. Provincial parks exist to safeguard our natural heritage—not to be carved up for economic opportunities. Removing nearly 3 hectares plus four entire beach areas sets an alarming precedent that threatens the integrity of our entire provincial park system.

The proposal's claim to "continue protecting natural and cultural heritage" is meaningless without specific, legally binding mechanisms. Moving from the robust protections of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act to municipal control represents a significant weakening of environmental safeguards.

Wasaga Beach's shoreline ecosystem is irreplaceable. These interconnected beach areas support migratory birds, native plant communities, and critical dune ecosystems. Fragmenting this protected area will disrupt ecological processes and expose vulnerable habitats to development pressures prohibited under current legislation.

Transferring management from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Tourism creates an inherent conflict where economic development takes precedence over environmental stewardship—precisely the wrong approach during a climate and biodiversity crisis.

This proposal is fundamentally flawed in its vagueness. The public deserves to know what specific developments are planned, what binding environmental protections will remain, and how public access will be maintained. Without these details, meaningful public input is impossible.

The complete absence of any mention of Indigenous consultation is deeply troubling and contradicts Ontario's commitments to Truth and Reconciliation. These lands have been Indigenous territory for thousands of years. The proposal's failure to acknowledge Indigenous interests or demonstrate consultation suggests this process ignores Indigenous rights and the Crown's duty to consult—unacceptable in 2025.

True economic sustainability comes from protecting, not exploiting, our natural heritage. Wasaga Beach's tourism value stems from its natural beauty and protected status. Short-term development gains will compromise the very attributes that make this area economically valuable long-term.

I urge the government to:
- Abandon this proposal entirely and maintain full provincial park protection
- Conduct meaningful Indigenous consultation before any land use changes
- Provide detailed development plans and environmental impact assessments
- Strengthen protections for Wasaga Beach's coastal ecosystem
- Explore sustainable tourism alternatives that don't compromise protected areas

I strongly urge the government to reject these amendments and focus on sustainable tourism that respects our environmental protection and Indigenous rights commitments. As climate change accelerates, we should be expanding protections, not eliminating them.

The people of Ontario deserve better than a government that treats protected natural heritage as disposable assets for development opportunities.