Green Party leader rallies Creemore crowd against Bill 5

About 30 people gathered at Creemore Village Green last week to hear Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner speak about mobilizing to push back against the Doug Ford government’s Bill 5. The appearance was billed as part of the Summer of Resistance tour.

Schreiner told the crowd that Bill 5 is stripping away hard-won protections that safeguard the people and places we love for the benefit of wealthy insiders. He says Doug Ford is creating lawless zones where rules don’t apply, undermining First Nation sovereignty. Schreiner also expressed concern about plans to sell off provincial parks, beginning with Wasaga Beach. He says now is the time to stand together and use people power to stop the reckless power grab.

Environmental advocates say the province’s plan to hand parts of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the municipality to facilitate tourism development sets a dangerous precedent.

Premier Doug Ford announced in May that the Ontario government would give $38 million to Wasaga Beach to help revitalize tourism and support future housing. Part of the proposed plan includes selling a total of about 60 hectares of parkland at Beach Areas 1 and 2, New Wasaga Beach and Allenwood Beach to the Town of Wasaga Beach.

The vision for Wasaga Beach is one of the province’s largest-ever waterfront tourism redevelopment projects. Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith believes that transferring parts of the provincial park to the town would be especially positive for local residents and businesses.