A proposal by the Ontario government to sell 60 per cent of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park’s beachfront to the Town of Wasaga Beach has ignited concern among environmental advocates and residents. The plan, part of a broader initiative to revitalize the town’s tourism sector, includes the transfer of parkland—land environmental experts say is ecologically irreplaceable.
Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defense, warns that the sale could jeopardize fragile 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, once extirpated from Ontario, has only recently begun to recover thanks to conservation efforts. Gray emphasized that removing the land from provincial park protection would strip away the safeguards that have enabled 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.
While Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith has stated that environmentally sensitive areas will be preserved and that the town is consulting with conservation groups, Gray remains skeptical. “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
Adding to the controversy is the province’s announcement that it intends to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (PPCRA), the legislation that governs the protection of Ontario’s parks. The lack of transparency around the proposed changes has raised alarms. “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 fears that the Wasaga Beach proposal may be a precursor to broader deregulation. “It would be much worse if there’s a plan to make it easier to sell off land throughout the system,” Gray said, citing previous government actions involving Ontario Place and the Greenbelt.
The Ministry of Environment has stated that protected species and their habitats will remain protected regardless of ownership. But Gray disputes this, pointing to the recent repeal of 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 the legislature set to reconvene in late October, Environmental Defense is urging Ontarians to contact their MPPs and demand a vote against the 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 is more than just a summer destination—it’s a cherished public space. Gray believes that any move to privatize its beachfront could have lasting consequences. “Having publicly accessible beaches… is a long-term legacy for the people of Ontario,” he said. “Anything that is going to tinker with or damage the ecological values… is going to have a long-term negative impact.”
Residents concerned about the future of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park are urged to comment about the proposal by end of day on August 11. They are also encouraged to contact their local representatives before the legislative vote this fall.
