Protecting the Piping Plover’s Habitat

Every spring, the Piping Plover – a small, sandy-colored shorebird – embarks on an incredible journey back to Ontario’s Great Lakes. After spending months on warm southern beaches, these little birds travel thousands of kilometers to nest on the untouched stretches of sand along our freshwater shores.

One of their last remaining habitats is Wasaga Beach – the longest freshwater beach in the world – which hosts one of Ontario’s most unique and delicate coastal dune ecosystems. Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is an 1,844-hectare recreational park located in the Town of Wasaga Beach. It was created in 1959 to protect both nature and public access to one of Ontario’s natural treasures.

Now, the Ontario government plans to divide large portions of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for a so-called “world-class tourist destination.” However, behind this shiny promotional language lies a risky development plan that could push the Piping Plover – along with our right to protected natural spaces – to the edge.

A precedent that undermines protection

What’s unfolding at Wasaga Beach isn’t just another local planning dispute. To advance this development, Ontario aims to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act – a law meant to safeguard our parks from exactly this kind of commercial land acquisition.

If Ontario can dismantle Wasaga Beach Provincial Park for roads, real estate, and tourism projects, what prevents it from covering other protected areas when another big business proposal comes along? This isn’t just a minor loophole – it’s a wrecking ball aimed at the fundamental concept of public protected land. It establishes a troubling precedent: our parks are no longer assured safe havens for nature.

No beach means no birds

For Piping Plovers, losing natural beach habitat is disastrous. These birds create tiny nests on open beaches between the water’s edge and foredunes. They depend on natural elements like dunes, beach debris, and wrack lines – remnants of aquatic vegetation that provide shelter for insects and tiny crustaceans.

When we flatten beaches for development or build roads and homes nearby, we destroy the very ecosystem that Piping Plovers – along with many other species – rely on for survival. Experts in Ontario have indicated that once dune systems are lost, they may take decades to recover. Plovers don’t have time to wait that long.

The tricky part is this: when biodiversity diminishes, so does the beach itself. Plovers are considered an “indicator species” by scientists-when they vanish, it’s a warning sign that the entire beach ecosystem is failing. They serve as nature’s early warning system-and symbolize what free outdoor recreation has always been about at Wasaga.

Quiet erosion of protections

Ecojustice has been working tirelessly for years to safeguard the Piping Plover under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). Unfortunately, changes are being made that weaken these laws while SARA remains inadequately enforced. This will leave vital parts of Piping Plover habitat unprotected-like dunes and wrack lines essential for chick survival. Even worse, Ottawa has urged Ontario to implement protections but hasn’t fully utilized tools available under SARA. Now both governments seem indifferent toward their responsibilities.

Together, Bill 5 (Ontario) and Bill C-5 (federal) illustrate how swiftly democracy’s safeguards can be dismantled-laws designed to protect public interest are being altered behind closed doors all in pursuit of profit.

A call to protect what matters

Wasaga Beach represents more than just a stretch of sand; it demonstrates that our laws only shield nature if we advocate for them actively. The struggle faced by the Piping Plover reminds us what’s at stake when we trade wild spaces for quick cash: we lose more than just a bird-we lose our parks’ integrity, our laws’ strength, and our collective commitment to preserving room for life beyond humanity.

There are only a few spots left where Piping Plovers can nest in Ontario. If we allow this situation to continue unchecked, what will happen next?

We owe it not just to these small birds-but also ourselves-to stand firm against this change. Not here. Not at Wasaga Beach. Not ever.

Add your voice before it’s too late

The Ontario government is currently accepting public comments regarding this proposal through the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) until 11:59 p. m. on August 11, 2025.

This is your opportunity to make your voice heard! The government claims it wants public feedback-let’s take advantage of that offer! Tell them clearly: our provincial parks aren’t up for sale; extinction isn’t something we’re willing to accept just for tourism marketing purposes!

This blog was written with contributions from Shayoni Mehta from Ecojustice’s communications team.

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