November 27, 2023 - Since the beginning of the Ontario Place redevelopment process, the Province has had the power to impose their development plan. But the City has been determined to collaborate and find the best outcome for the future of these well-loved, well-used public lands.
The Province made a choice today to use extraordinary legislative power to discontinue their agreed-upon development process with the City; to take City-owned lands at Ontario Place; and to proceed on work with no environmental assessment.
They are taking this decision because of the powerful organizing and action we’ve taken together that’s shown their plan to be a bad use of public money and precious waterfront lands.
At the City, we oversaw a public, robust and transparent development application process, which the Province agreed to and was still underway. We held firm in protecting the City’s interests on its land. We’ve explored alternative visions and locations for the proposed development which are still on the table.
The Province didn’t get what they wanted through the City's planning process or at the New Deal negotiating table. Facing yet another Auditor-General’s investigation, they are unilaterally pushing through legislation to take the site with no regard for the public or for good planning.
The Province and Therme can make a different choice. We’ve seen it happen recently, on the Greenbelt. The fight for Ontario Place continues at Queen’s Park - and I am determined to keep working with people across Toronto and Ontario to win.
