Selling Nature: Ford Government’s Park Sell-Off Is an Insult to Every Ontarian

Selling Nature: Ford Government’s Park Sell-Off Is an Insult to Every Ontarian

In a move critics are calling “Greenbelt 2.0,” the Ford government has announced its latest scheme to carve up Ontario’s natural heritage for profit. The province revealed plans this week to sell "underutilized" portions of several provincial parks to private developers—clearing the way for luxury cottages, high-end resorts, and "eco-lodges" on lands once protected for all Ontarians.

Let’s call this what it is: an environmental betrayal disguised as economic development.

Doug Ford’s government is trying to spin this as a “revitalization” of parkland and an “opportunity” for tourism growth. But it’s nothing more than a fire sale of public land to the highest bidder—one that will permanently degrade pristine ecosystems, privatize access to natural spaces, and benefit a wealthy few at the expense of everyone else.

“Underutilized” = Untouched Wilderness

The language being used by the Ford government is deeply revealing. “Underutilized” is code for “not profitable.” These are not wastelands—they are stretches of untouched forest, pristine lakeshores, and delicate wetlands that remain undeveloped because they are ecologically sensitive. The very fact that these lands are quiet, peaceful, and off the beaten path is exactly why they are valuable—and exactly why they are now under threat.

Ontarians don’t need another gated resort community. They need clean air, protected wildlife corridors, and publicly accessible wilderness. Ford is attempting to monetize the parts of our parks that are doing their job by not being exploited.

From Public Stewardship to Private Playgrounds

This decision mirrors the same cynical logic behind the government’s failed Greenbelt land swap: identify areas the public loves and trusts are protected, then quietly hand them over to developers under the guise of progress. It's a classic bait-and-switch. And it’s no coincidence that the companies being courted for these deals are well-connected donors and insiders.

What Ford is doing is transforming public lands—held in trust for future generations—into playgrounds for the ultra-rich. Soon, the average Ontarian won’t be able to afford to camp in their own province without booking through a private company charging $600 a night.

Environmental Catastrophe, One Parcel at a Time

Environmental advocates warn that this plan could lead to irreversible ecological damage. Fragmenting parkland destroys animal habitats, increases pollution, and disrupts critical carbon-absorbing green space. The government insists it will “consult with stakeholders,” but Ontarians know what that means under Ford: rubber-stamped hearings with a predetermined outcome.

The hypocrisy is galling. This is the same government that slashed environmental protections, gutted conservation authorities, and now claims it wants to “enhance” the park experience through private investment. It's nothing more than a smokescreen for environmental destruction and corporate profiteering.

The Bottom Line

Once public land is sold, it’s gone forever. There is no going back. Doug Ford and his allies are banking on Ontarians being too distracted or disillusioned to fight back. But we’ve seen this before, and we know exactly where it leads.

We need to draw the line—again. Because if we don’t, one day we’ll wake up to find that every trail, every lake, and every piece of wilderness that once belonged to all of us now has a price tag.