Re: Creation of the…

Re: Creation of the Conservation Reserve Along the South Shore of Prince Edward County

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the amendment to Ontario Regulation 315/07 under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006, to create a conservation reserve along the Lake Ontario shoreline of Prince Edward County, located 15 km south of Picton and 65 km southwest of Kington.

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) is the authoritative voice of the tourism industry in Ontario. We represent 200,000 tourism businesses and over 400,000 jobs in every corner of our province. The businesses we represent include tour and guide services, resource-based tourism operators, food and beverage vendors, and hotels and accommodations, among many other sectors across our vast industry.

TIAO supports the creation of the proposed conservation reserve, which aligns with our priority to ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism activities and experiences through the development of environmentally-conscious practices. However, as our businesses have been among the hardest hit in Ontario—enduring two years of revenue losses, job losses, and mounting debt—we would also like to ensure that the tourism industry continues to be consulted on an ongoing basis to minimize any disruption to local tourism commercial activity.

Based on feedback from local stakeholders, there is support for the transition to a conservation reserve in the South Shore of Prince Edward County and Point Petre, specifically. The area has required preservation and therefore, having the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks protect the area will be beneficial to its conservation.

Thank you for considering this response and thank you again for the opportunity to participate in this consultation.

Yours sincerely,

Jessica Ng

Director of Policy and Government Affairs
Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
jng@tiaontario.ca