Premier Doug Ford has declined the town of Wasaga Beach's request to ban tents in provincial parks as unfounded rumours of beach-pooping run rampant online.
A ban on tents "is just not going to cut it across the board," Ford said, adding, "You can't pick and choose."
"I think people are respectful enough. Folks, don't be pooping on the beach. Simple as that," he said.
Ford stressed that the rumours, which started with a TikTok video targeting Indian immigrants and have been amplified by far-right media, are just that — rumours.
"We have no proof of it either. And the social media, they get rolling on the social media," he said.
No photos or videos have emerged of anyone defecating in the sand at Wasaga Beach.
Wasaga Beach itself has also said it has seen no evidence of the practice. All the same, in 2020, it banned four-sided temporary structures on municipal property. But since the beach is a provincial park, the province, not the town, has jurisdiction.
A Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks spokesperson said that despite receiving complaints on the topic since 2020, "no specific evidence of these allegations has been found during patrols by staff or regular beach maintenance."
Last week, the town passed a motion calling on the province to ban tents to "put people's mind at ease, put a lid on misinformation and deter bad actors." It also asked for a meeting with the premier, Parks Minister Andrea Khanjin and Tourism Minister Stan Cho.
As promised, to put peoples mind at ease, put a lid on misinformation and deter bad actors, Town of Wasaga Beach Council passed a motion today calling on the Province to ban tents on the beach at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.
— Town of Wasaga Beach (@WB_Media) July 29, 2024
Mayor Brian Smith has called on Ford to help clean up the image of the town, a popular tourist destination that has been "gravely harmed" by the rumours.
Ford said he'd be "more than happy to talk to the mayor."
"And again, they have no proof of people pooping in the park, per se," he said, though he added, "It's pretty bad if they are."
The ministry added that the Ford government has put over $1 million into facility enhancements at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, including new washrooms and more staff for beach clean-up.