Ford to change parks law for Wasaga Beach redevelopment

National Observer

24-07-2025

The Ford government is proposing legislative changes to the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act to remove nearly one-third of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park from protection and transfer the land to the Town of Wasaga Beach for development.
Under the current Act, removing more than 50 hectares or one percent of a provincial park requires a study, a report and approval by the Ontario Legislature. Experts say to enable this land transfer, which would remove more than five times that area — 261 hectares — the province would first need to remove that key safeguard from the Act.
Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence, warns this change would make it easier for the province to quietly remove sections of parks without public scrutiny and could open the door to privatizing protected lands across Ontario.
'If that clause is repealed, the cabinet could quietly remove parts of any provincial park in Ontario whenever they want without the public knowing and without the legislature voting on it,' Gray said.
In its public posting, the government mentioned an amendment to the Act but did not clarify which section would be changed. Canada's National Observer reached out to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for clarification but did not receive a response in time for publication.
The Ford government has previously introduced dozens of legislative changes to fast-track resource development and enable the transfer of environmentally protected public land to private interests, such as the Greenbelt land swap, the Ontario Place redevelopment and the proposed Dresden landfill.
While the province says the Wasaga Beach move is intended to boost tourism, environmental advocates are raising alarms about both the local impact and the broader precedent.
The Ford government has previously introduced dozens of legislative changes to fast-track resource development and enable the transfer of environmentally protected public land to private interests.
Gray said this fits a wider pattern under the Ford government: shifting public lands to private hands by rewriting laws.
Environmental concerns
The lands being targeted include ecologically sensitive sand dunes, wetlands and nesting habitat for the endangered piping plover. Tony Morris, conservation director at Ontario Nature, says transferring these areas to the town puts both wildlife and long-standing conservation efforts at risk.
Morris said Ontario Parks has managed the area for decades, restoring dunes and protecting habitat. Under town ownership, those protections could disappear.
Without the Provincial Parks Act in place, Morris says the town would not be required to manage the land for ecological health.
He questioned why the transfer is even needed, noting Wasaga Beach is already Ontario's most-visited provincial park.
'There's not a lot of information on why this is necessary. What's the business case?' Morris said.
Both Environmental Defence and Ontario Nature plan to submit formal comments to the Ford government and notify the federal environment minister about risks to the piping plover — a federally protected species.
Earlier this year, the Ford government announced a $38 million investment to build 'Destination Wasaga' — a tourism project that includes revitalizing Nancy Island, upgrading roads and transferring part of the provincial park to the town. The province says the goal is to boost tourism, support jobs and grow the local economy.
'Wouldn't have it any other way'
The proposed changes do not say whether the transferred lands will be sold to private developers.
In an email response, Brian Smith, mayor of the Town of Wasaga Beach, confirmed the town is seeking about 60 hectares as part of the proposed transfer from Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. Smith says the land is not being given to private developers but to the municipality, with the condition that the beach remains public.
'The plan is to collaborate with the province to reimagine the large swath of crumbling, paved parking lot at Beach Area 1,' Smith said. 'The Town and citizens of Wasaga Beach wouldn't have it any other way.'
Smith said the goal is to create a sustainable, four-season waterfront destination focused on eco-tourism and public access.
The town will work with ecologists, urban designers and the community to ensure shoreline areas — including dunes and piping plover habitat — are protected, he added.
The Town has recently pursued redevelopment at Beach Area One, including selling several pieces of public beachfront land for millions to a private developer.
On its website, the town says it is actively seeking 'a visionary partner to help reimagine our waterfront into a globally recognized destination.' It adds: 'The right partner will help us set a new benchmark for sustainable urban design.'
Gray said that pattern suggests the new parkland would likely follow the same path.
'There's no guarantee these parklands won't be next,' he said.
Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner says Ford is once again removing important protections, just like with Bill 5 — this time putting provincial parks at risk.
'He's doing it all to benefit wealthy insiders and putting the rest of provincial parks under threat,' Schreiner said. 'Ontario parks belong to the people, not wealthy Ford-connected insiders.'
He urged the public to push back before more damage is done.
'Our parks are home to species at risk, vital wetlands and ecological features that protect nearby communities from flooding and extreme weather,' Schreiner said in a statement. 'They are also cherished spaces where Ontario families can camp, hike, swim, paddle and connect with each other and nature.'
What's next
The proposed changes still need to be voted on at Queen's Park, but that won't happen until the legislature returns in late October.
Gray is urging people to act now by contacting their MPPs and pushing back. He says provincial parks belong to the people of Ontario and should remain protected.
'It is appalling that the current government is trying to give away big parts of our most popular park and make it easy to give more park land away in the future,' Gray said. 'These beachfront lands on Georgian Bay are worth millions of dollars and owned by the people of Ontario. They should never be a gift to well-connected developers.'