News More than half of the Wasaga Beach shoreline could be opened to development by Eric Wickham, Ontario Reporter July 29, 2025 Doug Ford’s provincial government is planning to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. This change would lead to most of the beachfront being removed from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. The goal is to hand over this land to the local municipality, which might pursue development options. “Provincial parks are meant to be protected and managed to maintain their ecological integrity, and they’re dedicated to the people of Ontario,” said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence, who has raised concerns about this proposal. “They’re meant to be protected forever.” The organization claims that roughly 60% of the shoreline will be taken out of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. Gray highlighted how rare it is for a government to lessen the size of protected lands. He also mentioned that Canada aims for 30% of its lands and waters to have some form of environmental protection by 2030 due to signing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework along with 195 other nations in 2022. The land suggested for removal from the park is set for transfer to the Town of Wasaga Beach, whose previous stance on conservation efforts raises alarms according to Gray. “Given their previous hostility and desire to mechanically rake the beach, destroying habitats, we can only imagine that once they own it and it’s no longer protected in the park, they’ll quickly make changes,” he said. “They’ve shown opposition even when they didn’t own it.” Gray also pointed out that while it’s unclear what will happen next with this land, local wildlife and environments could face risks. The piping plover is an endangered species found in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, and its habitat is included in the area planned for removal under this proposal. Gray emphasized the ecological significance of sand dunes and shoreline habitats within the park. These unique features play a key role in flood prevention. “When big storms hit Georgian Bay during spring, fall or winter, these dunes serve as barriers against waves crashing into town due to wind and sand,” he explained. An excerpt from a map posted on Ontario’s Environmental Registry shows areas shaded in yellow proposed for removal from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park; portions marked in green would remain untouched. (Ontario Parks / Environmental Registry of Ontario) “It’s a natural protective barrier formed along a natural beach; if they’re taken away or replaced with parking lots, that will alter everything there,” he added. This proposed change comes alongside a $38 million investment from the province aimed at boosting tourism in Wasaga Beach under an initiative called “Destination Wasaga.” Government statistics indicate that Wasaga Beach was among the most visited provincial parks during three out of four recent years available. Even though Ford’s government holds a majority at Queen’s Park, Gray insists those against removing 60% of beachfront from the park should get involved. “For this issue specifically, it’s going to take significant mobilization so government MPPs realize their constituents won’t accept this,” he stated. Additonally, he noted opposition MPPs should hear from their constituents too so this matter gets addressed at Queen’s Park. “This bill will come before legislature; it needs voting on,” he remarked. “It’ll go through committee as well. The more people pay attention and show interest in it means better chances we have at stopping both this attack on Wasaga as well as protecting our provincial park system overall.” The Town of Wasaga Beach, Premier’s office, and Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson did not respond when Press Progress reached out for comments. The province is currently welcoming feedback regarding this proposal via Ontario’s Environmental Registry. Our journalism is powered by readers like you.
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