The Ford government is selling almost 60 hectares of Wasaga Provincial Park, including Beach Area 1, Beach Area 2, New Wasaga Beach, and Allenwood Beach, to the town of Wasaga. This is in order for the town to build the area into a public tourist destination and foster local economic growth, which will occur with a $38 million investment from Ford’s government. While one half of the transferred land is largely paved parking lots, the other half houses important beach ecosystems and environmentally sensitive dunes. These areas, among other important ecological functions, are critical habitat for the endangered Piping Plover that just recently made a comeback (pictured below). Not only does the selling of Park land set a dangerous precedent, it will leave the birds without any law-based protections.
In support of this decision, Ford’s government has proposed amendments to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act that could open the door to countless similar hand offs of our protected areas. Having seen the Ford prioritize private profit over Ontarians and our environment countless times, these changes to the Act are deeply concerning and are reminiscent of Trump’s constant efforts to sell off America’s protected lands.
ACT NOW!
- Submit a comment to the ERO before August 11, this does not have to be scientific or backed by professional expertise. We are supposed to be the people Ford is representing, and we have the right and duty to let him know we do not want this.
- Sign the Green Party of Ontario’s petitions here and here
Learn more:
Birds Canada – Wasaga Beach is the best Piping Plover habitat remaining in Ontario – and its future is at risk
Environmental Defence Fund – Ontario Plans to Sell 60% of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park Beachfront for Development
Ecojustice Canada blog – A tiny bird with a giant fight
Abby Shin 
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