I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the proposed legislative amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA) that would remove significant portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park — including Beach Areas 1, 2, New Wasaga, and Allenwood Beach — and transfer them to the Town of Wasaga Beach.

1. Protection of the Natural Environment and Species at Risk
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is home to a diverse natural environment, including critical habitat for species at risk such as the Piping Plover, a federally and provincially endangered shorebird that nests directly on the beaches in question. Removing these lands from provincial park protection will increase the risk of habitat disturbance, degradation, and loss due to commercial and high-intensity recreational development. These areas are not vacant land — they are ecologically sensitive zones whose protection is part of Ontario’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and species recovery under provincial and federal law.

2. Provincial Parks Belong to All Ontarians
Provincial parks are held in trust for the citizens of Ontario, not for private developers or the financial interests of a single municipality. The beaches are one of the few places in Ontario where everyone — regardless of income — can access the shoreline and enjoy Georgian Bay’s natural beauty. Handing over parkland for commercial use undermines the principle of public ownership and sets a dangerous precedent for the privatization of other provincial parks.

3. Tourism Opportunities Without Sacrificing Parkland
There is no need to remove provincial parkland to enhance tourism. Sustainable tourism can and should be pursued in a way that complements the park rather than removes it. Wasaga Beach already has other lands available for redevelopment. The Town has recently purchased and sold property near Beach Area 1, demonstrating that economic initiatives can occur outside of the park boundary. There is no indication or assurance that the Town would not resell or commercially redevelop sensitive natural areas if given ownership, particularly given recent land transactions. It is also unclear how the Town can develop in species at risk habitat.

4. Risks of Commercialization and Loss of Natural Character
Commercializing the beach areas will irreversibly alter the natural landscape that makes Wasaga Beach a tourism destination in the first place. Visitors come for the unique, natural, and publicly accessible shoreline — not for rows of private businesses replacing open public space. Once lost to development, the natural character and ecological integrity of these beaches cannot be replaced.

The proposal is inconsistent with Ontario’s obligations to protect provincial parks, biodiversity, and public lands. Tourism and economic revitalization can be achieved without dismantling one of Ontario’s most cherished and ecologically important provincial parks.

Sadly, it is consistent with this government’s quest to sell off the best of Ontario to private and connected developers (Ontario Place, Science Centre, Greenbelt) and use of MZO’s to over ride local wishes.