Wasaga Beach Provincial Park – Ontario Parks photo
A plan by the Ontario government to sell 60 percent of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park’s beachfront to the Town of Wasaga Beach has raised alarms among environmental groups and local residents. This initiative, aimed at boosting tourism in the area, involves transferring parkland that experts claim is vital for ecological health.
Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defense, cautions that this sale could harm delicate ecosystems and endangered species. “These have rare vegetation communities, dune complexes, and the critically endangered piping plover,” Gray said. “The dunes also help protect the town from big storms in the fall.”
Click here to listen to Barrie 360’s interview with Tim Gray
The piping plover was once extinct in Ontario but has started to bounce back thanks to conservation efforts. Gray stressed that taking this land out of provincial protection would eliminate crucial safeguards that support this recovery. “Any lands that are outside of a provincial park are much less likely to have that species protected because those rules have all been stripped away by the current government,” he said.
Although Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith has assured that environmentally sensitive areas will be kept safe and consultations with conservation groups are ongoing, Gray remains doubtful. “If you don’t plan on doing anything to damage the ecological values of these park lands, then why do you support removing them from the park?” he asked.
Click here to read Mayor Smith’s comments on the matter
The situation is further complicated by the province’s announcement regarding changes to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA), which governs how Ontario’s parks are protected. The lack of clarity surrounding these proposed amendments has sparked concern. “The announcement that the Act is going to be amended without providing any details… is a cause for concern,” Gray said. “Especially when it’s coupled with a plan to actually sell off parts of one of our most visited parks.”
Environmental Defense worries this proposal could signal broader deregulation ahead. “It would be much worse if there’s a plan to make it easier to sell off land throughout the system,” Gray noted, referencing past government actions involving Ontario Place and the Greenbelt.
The Ministry of Environment claims protected species and their habitats will stay safe no matter who owns them. However, Gray disputes this assertion, highlighting recent rollbacks like those seen in the Endangered Species Act. “I’m not exactly sure what the mechanism would be to protect species when the legislative ability of government to do so has been removed.”
With lawmakers set to return at the end of October, Environmental Defense is urging Ontarians to reach out to their MPPs and advocate against this proposal. “We’re really hoping that the public reaches out… and perhaps it’s enough that we can have a similar outcome that we did when we all rallied together to make sure that the Greenbelt wasn’t going to be developed.”
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For many Ontarians, Wasaga Beach isn’t just a summer spot-it’s an important public space. Gray thinks any attempt at privatizing its beachfront could lead to long-term issues. “Having publicly accessible beaches… is a long-term legacy for the people of Ontario,” he said. “Anything that is going tinker with or damage ecological values… is going have a long-term negative impact.”
Residents worried about Wasaga Beach Provincial Park’s future should submit their comments about this proposal by August 11th as well as contact their local representatives before voting occurs in legislature this fall.
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