Wasaga Beach is home to a well-known provincial park that lies entirely within the town’s limits, but the Ford government plans to transfer some of this parkland to the municipality, prompting critics to warn that this could create a troubling precedent.
“This beautiful white sand beach is the heart and lungs of our community,” Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith said, referring to the world’s longest freshwater beach.
He told City News that handing over about 60 hectares of sandy land from the provincial government to Wasaga Beach helps correct a historical injustice.
“ came in the ’60s and ’70s and expropriated a bunch of lands here. They tore down four-storey, five-storey hotels. They tore down cottage courts,” Smith said.
During a visit in spring, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a $38-million investment for redeveloping the beach while ensuring some parkland remains accessible as a public beach for everyone.
The transfer requires changes in legislation by the Ford government. Critics have voiced their concerns about these changes.
“There’s no doubt in our mind that once this has been done, it has set a precedent to be able to do that to any park or protected area,” Jarvis Strong, a spokesperson for the Escarpment Corridor Alliance, told City News.
The group doesn’t oppose attracting more visitors but worries whether the provincial government can adequately protect wildlife and environmental features in such areas.
A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks strongly disagreed with these concerns.
“The proposed changes … are specific to Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. To be clear, there will be no changes made beyond those being considered … and any claims otherwise are categorically false,” the statement said.
Shaun Talbot, owner of Wasaga Watersports which rents out jet skis, mentioned that much of the parkland should see some development.
“For the lands behind the beach, I think that they’re underutilized. Sauble Beach has overnight camping. We have absolutely no camping facilities here on the beach, and we have 14 kilometres of provincial park,” he said.
Smith believes both protection and development are essential for the beach.
“If this was anywhere else in the world, it would be treated much differently, and I think that this government gets it. I know that our municipality gets it,” he said.
The land transfer is set to take place in fall when Town officials will begin determining what happens next with this property.
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