‘No proof that people are pooping’: Premier Doug Ford doesn’t support tent ban on Ontario beach

Premier Doug Ford doesn’t support a tent ban on Ontario beaches after unfounded reports of public defecation at Wasaga Beach.

Last month, social media posts indicated people were hiding public defecation inside tents set up on Wasaga Beach.

The unverified claims led Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith to issue a statement, saying the town takes all resident and visitor feedback seriously but rejects complaints that lack evidence and promote misinformation.

A few days later provincial officials said they have received reports of public defecation incidents for several years but no substantial evidence has been found by beach patrol officers.

Last week, the Town of Wasaga Beach Council passed a motion calling on the province to ban tents on the beach at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.

The town requested a meeting with Ford and the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Stan Cho.

The town hoped “to talk about improving provincial park maintenance, driving tourism in Ontario, and working together to reimagine Wasaga Beach Provincial Park,” the Town of Wasaga Beach said in a post on X.

In a press conference on an unrelated topic on Wednesday in Mississauga, Ford said he would meet with Mayor Smith but suggested there is no issue.

“They have no proof that people are pooping in the park, per se,” Ford said.

He said the province has spent millions of dollars to build bathrooms at the beach.

Banning tents at Wasaga Beach may have to cover all provincial parks.

“If we ban tents in provincial parks that is just not going to cut it across the board,” he said.

He also suggested people do the right thing and be respectful of public space.

“Folks don’t be pooping on the beach. Simple as that,” Ford said.