Doug Ford says 'don't be pooping on the beach' while visiting this popular Ontario spot
The white sand beach has become the subject of some foul allegations.
Doug Ford during a press conference. Right: Wasaga Beach.
Doug Ford is asking people to get their crap together (quite literally) amidst some foul allegations about this Ontario beach.
During a press conference on Wednesday, the Ontario premier responded to complaints that beachgoers have been defecating on the shores of Wasaga Beach.
Concerns arose after several TikTok videos released in July claimed that people were using the sand at the popular beach as a toilet.
The allegations prompted Town of Wasaga Beach Mayor Brian Smith to release a statement on July 22 stating that "the Town has received no evidence — from residents, visitors or the Ontario government — to verify that any undesirable, unsanitary behaviour has occurred on the beach areas that make up Wasaga Beach Provincial Park."
"If any evidence comes to light, I assure you that we will be quick to act."
The Town is now calling on the Province of Ontario "to ban enclosed tents on the beach, step up patrolling and enforcement, and invest more in Wasaga Beach Provincial Park" in order to ease beachgoers' concerns, according to a Facebook post a week later.
During Wednesday's press conference, Ford said he has "no proof that people are pooping in the park" and that banning tents in provincial parks "is just not going to cut it across the board."
"Folks, don't be pooping on the beach, simple as that," he added.
On July 9, TikTok user itsnattylxnn2.0 claimed that people were defecating on the beach while hidden by tents.
"I've seen it," she said in a video. "I've seen people just squat and make holes without tents."
"As a local, I refuse to let my kids dig in the sand on Beach 1," she explained in another video posted on the same day.
In his statement, Mayor Smith said that the Town "reject[s] the premise of complaints that lack evidence and promote misinformation," and that the area is "proud to be home to the world's longest freshwater beach — one of the cleanest, safest, and most beautiful beaches in the world."