Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – Ecojustice has submitted a formal petition on behalf of Environmental Defence and Ontario Nature. They are asking the Honourable Julie Dabrusin – the federal Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature – to recommend that the federal cabinet issue an Emergency Order to protect Piping Plover habitat at Wasaga Beach. This area is Ontario’s most vital nesting site for this endangered migratory shorebird.
The petition demands immediate action under the federal Species at Risk Act to safeguard critical habitat at Wasaga Beach from harmful mechanical beach raking scheduled by the Town of Wasaga Beach this spring. This location, known as the world’s longest freshwater beach, has been responsible for 70 percent of all Ontario fledged Piping Plovers that survived into adulthood since they returned to Ontario in 2007. Without quick federal action, these birds face serious risks to their survival and recovery in Ontario.
Recent changes made by the Ontario government have weakened essential protections for Piping Plover habitat. On June 5, 2025, Ontario revised its Endangered Species Act to redefine “habitat” so that it no longer protects beaches after migratory birds like Piping Plovers leave for winter until they return in spring. It also significantly limits protection while birds are present. Piping Plovers have strong site fidelity and depend on crucial habitat features like dunes, natural debris, and native plants for their survival. Removing these natural materials and mechanically grooming the beach before their return will destroy vital habitat and likely drive them away from their nesting areas, disrupt courtship behaviors, and increase their vulnerability to predators. Additionally, on November 27, 2025, the provincial government further amended the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act to exclude parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park from protection including areas identified as critical habitat for these plovers.
These legal rollbacks have created opportunities for immediate threats that could jeopardize overall populations of Plovers. The Town of Wasaga Beach has already acquired mechanical raking equipment and has raked Allenwood Beach-another area stripped of its protections in 2025. The Town has also introduced “Destination Wasaga,” a development plan which includes intended mechanical beach clearing and construction near Piping Plover nesting sites.
Past research along with legal rulings have shown that mechanical beach raking damages natural debris essential for all life processes such as nesting, feeding, and hiding from predators among Piping Plovers. Evidence from other Ontario nesting sites indicates that after mechanical raking took place there was a failure of Piping Plovers to return after migration in subsequent years. With only three other active breeding locations left in Ontario as of 2025, losing Wasaga Beach would be disastrous for this species. Wasaga Beach can continue being both a thriving home for endangered piping plovers as well as an exceptional tourism spot.
The petition asks for an Emergency Order from the federal cabinet that protects at least all critical habitats at Wasaga Beach from mechanical raking or any development activities. This order needs to be issued by March 1, 2026. If there is no action taken by the Minister within this timeframe it may lead these organizations toward legal measures.
Tim Gray, Executive Director at Environmental Defence said: “Only the immediate action of the federal government stands between the loss or survival of the endangered piping plovers of Wasaga Beach. It is very rare to see such a clear, immediate and extreme threat to the survival and recovery of an endangered species in Canada. The time for action is now.”
Kegan Pepper-Smith, lawyer with Ecojustice stated: “The emergency order tool under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) was specifically designed for these types of urgent situations where a species is facing imminent threats to its survival or recovery.”
“The Minister must uphold her responsibility to recommend Cabinet issue an emergency order to stop the Town of Wasaga Beach from destroying Ontario’s most important nesting sites for the Piping Plover. And she must act quickly; neither unreasonable delay nor inaction is permissible under SARA.”
Tony Morris who serves as Conservation Policy and Campaigns Director at Ontario Nature remarked: “Wasaga Beach is Ontario’s most critical nesting site for endangered piping plover; it cannot afford further disturbance,” said Tony Morris , Conservation Policy & Campaigns Director at Ontario Nature. “The Government of Ontario has made it clear migratory birds are a federal responsibility so it is imperative that our federal Minister act now in protecting this unique species along with globally rare habitat.”
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About:
Environmental Defence (environmentaldefence. ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization committed to working alongside government entities , industry partners , and individuals towards defending clean water , a safe climate , and healthy communities. Ontario Nature (ontarionature. org): Ontario Nature focuses on protecting wild species alongside wild spaces through conservation efforts , education initiatives , and public engagement. As a charitable organization , Ontario Nature represents around 9 ,500 members with approximately130 ,000 supporters plus150 member groups spread throughout all regions across Ontario.Source link
