I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed legislative amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, that would remove Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park and facilitate the sale of these Crown lands to the Town of Wasaga Beach.

These lands are part of a protected provincial park system and serve critical ecological, recreational, and cultural functions. Wasaga Beach is home to rare and sensitive ecosystems, including sand dunes and habitats for species at risk such as the piping plover. Removing these areas from park protection and transferring them for development purposes directly contradicts the intent of the PPCRA, which is to maintain ecological integrity and preserve natural heritage for future generations.

Privatizing these lands would:

1. Undermine environmental protections by opening ecologically sensitive areas to commercial development.
2. Set a dangerous precedent for the removal and sale of other protected lands across Ontario.
3. Erode public trust in the government’s commitment to conservation and transparent land-use planning.
4. Limit public access to cherished natural spaces that have been enjoyed by Ontarians for generations.

While economic development and tourism are important, they must not come at the cost of our protected natural heritage. I urge the government to reject this proposal and instead invest in sustainable tourism strategies that enhance, rather than compromise, the ecological and recreational value of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.