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Could Sandbanks Be Next? Ontario’s Quiet Threat to Provincial Parks

In a move sparking alarm among environmentalists, local leaders, and residents alike, the Ontario government has proposed carving off nearly one-seventh of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park—645 acres of public beachfront and ecologically sensitive land—for private development. And while the implications for Wasaga Beach are serious enough, a deeper concern is emerging across the province: Is this the beginning of a broader effort to dismantle the protection of Ontario’s parks? Could Prince Edward County’s own Sandbanks Provincial Park be next?

Here’s what you can do:

A Dangerous Precedent for All Ontario Parks

At the heart of the proposal is more than just a land sale—it’s a legal rewrite. The province wants to amend the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, which currently prevents any government from disposing of more than 1% of a park’s land without tabling a detailed report to the Legislature and obtaining the Assembly’s explicit approval. That safeguard—long considered a cornerstone of environmental stewardship in Ontario—is now in jeopardy.

If the government succeeds, it could open the door for park lands anywhere in Ontario to be reclassified and removed quietly, without a public vote or community input.

What’s at Stake in Wasaga Beach

The lands in question are not just any beachfront—they’re critical ecological zones. They include:

  • Habitat for the Piping Plover, an endangered bird species under both provincial and federal law.
  • Mature sand dunes, essential for climate resilience and storm buffering.
  • Provincially significant wetlands and vegetation communities.
  • A designated Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).

These aren’t just technical details—they’re reminders that Ontario’s parks serve as natural infrastructure, heritage landscapes, and homes to biodiversity. Stripping protection from one park sets a dangerous precedent for all others.

Why Sandbanks Could Be Vulnerable

Prince Edward County’s Sandbanks Provincial Park is Ontario’s most iconic beach destination after Wasaga, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and generating significant regional economic activity. Its rare sand dune formations, diverse habitats, and popularity with campers, hikers, and naturalists make it both valuable and vulnerable.

Critically, the same logic being applied to Wasaga—”economic development”, tourism modernization, or private-sector partnerships—could just as easily be applied to Sandbanks. If legislative protections fall, there would be nothing to prevent a future government from proposing “partial redevelopment” of Sandbanks for resort facilities, retail, or exclusive beachfront access.

What Other Jurisdictions Are Doing Right

Other provinces and countries offer a stark contrast to Ontario’s current trajectory:

  • British Columbia has implemented park acquisition and expansion strategies, acquiring additional land for conservation rather than reducing it.
  • Quebec’s SEPAQ system operates under strict non-development mandates for core ecological zones.
  • In New Zealand, national parks are protected under law with public consultation and parliamentary oversight required for any changes.

These jurisdictions recognize that natural assets are finite—and that true prosperity comes from preserving, not selling, public land.

What Residents Can Do

The Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) has opened a public comment period (ERO #025-0694) on the proposed Wasaga Beach removal and the broader legislative changes. Residents across Ontario are encouraged to submit their opposition before the window closes.

Submit your comment here →

This is not just about Wasaga Beach. This is about the future of all protected lands in Ontario, including treasured places like Sandbanks, Bon Echo, Algonquin, and beyond. If public land can be quietly reclassified and sold without a vote, no park is truly safe. Now is the time to speak up. Because once public land is gone, it doesn’t come back. County First may litigate this matter as these actions are clearly not in the public interest and violate the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, which currently prevents any government from disposing of more than 1% of a park’s land without tabling a detailed report to the Legislature and obtaining the Assembly’s explicit approval. Sandbanks belongs to the people of Ontario and isn’t for sale.

Resources

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