Statement by Mayor Brian Smith in Response to Ecojustice Petition

Wasaga Beach is not just a destination — it is one of Canada’s and Ontario’s great natural treasures. Our shoreline, dunes, and the fragile ecosystems that sustain species like the Piping Plover are part of a living landscape that generations have enjoyed and that we have a responsibility to protect for generations to come.

Protecting this beach is not new to the Town or the people who call Wasaga Beach home. It is part of who we are.

Destination Wasaga is grounded in the principles of regenerative tourism and responsible stewardship. The Town and the Province of Ontario share a long-term vision: that Wasaga Beach will become an iconic, year-round recreation and nature-based destination — one that celebrates the longest freshwater beach in the world while safeguarding the full richness of its unique ecosystem.

The transfer of a small portion of provincial parkland, including Beach Area 1 and Beach Area 2, represents a shift in governance, not a step back in protection.

Local stewardship means accountability. It means decisions made close to the shoreline, informed by science, guided by partnership, and rooted in a deep respect for this place, which is our home.

The Town has been concerned by recent, ramped-up public advocacy by a handful of MPPs (none of whom represent or call Wasaga Beach home) that has been echoed by a few downtown-Toronto-based environmental groups – they are stoking people's fears and claiming that a shift to municipal stewardship and municipal governance is putting critical Piping Plover habitat at risk. That’s simply not true.

The petition filed by Ecojustice does not reflect the thoughtful, deliberate work that is already underway. The Town is actively advancing a municipal stewardship program and a comprehensive Piping Plover Beach Management Plan in consultation with qualified experts and partner agencies. For the 2026 season, the Town’s beach management practices will remain consistent with established conservation protocols, ensuring continuity and care during this transition.

The Town of Wasaga Beach, this Council and our citizens, believe environmental stewardship and economic resilience are not opposing forces — they are mutually reinforcing. A healthy beach is the foundation of a healthy community. There is no change to protections for critical habitat. There is no emergency. There is simply a transition in governance — and the Town is ready to lead responsibly.

Our commitment is clear. 

I’ve said this before and I will say it again, and again, and again: Wasaga Beach’s future depends on getting this balance right. We are committed to protecting this extraordinary nature while building a strong, sustainable community around it — now and for generations to come.

Mayor Brian Smith

Sandra Watts
Director of Strategic Communications, Destination Marketing & Intergovernmental Affairs
Email Sandra