The Provincial Parks and…

The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act was enacted to permanently protect provincial parks and conservation reserves including ecosystems representing all of Ontario’s natural regions, provincially significant elements of Ontario’s natural and cultural heritage, biodiversity and opportunities for compatible, ecologically sustainable recreation.
This proposal goes against the PPCRA and the collective need to protect the natural biodiversity that is left in this province for current and future Ontario residents. I am opposed to this proposal and the precedent that it sets and call for the government of Ontario to withdraw it. As a retired ecologist, I am outraged that elected officials are directing their staff to approve proposals like this. Staff at Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks are trained and extremely knowledgeable about the need for protecting the environment in this province. Their Minister and Premier should be deferring to them on protecting the environment, not asking them to support proposals that will destroy it.
Ontario is losing biodiversity at an ever increasing rate. The housing crisis and now the trade war are being used as excuses for over riding well-established and scientifically supported environmental protections (like the PPCRA) when they don't need to be. Ontario has land within municipal boundaries for development. The province should let the Town of Wasaga Beach determine for itself how they revitalize the downtown area and enhance tourism initiatives outside of the existing Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The MECP does not need to enable the removal of land from a provincial park when alternatives can be found within the municipal boundaries. In fact, the MECP should consider developing new provincial parks, rather than destroying existing ones. The province's population is growing and there is need for more natural areas (not less) for this growing number of Ontarians. More people are seeking to experience nature as visitation has increased ever since COVID. Thus, MECP and the Ontario provincial government need to prioritize environment over development and withdraw this proposal. There is no need to destroy a provincial park and the wildlife habitat it provides for more concrete and beach front homes when skillful planning and revitalization can address the issues.