ontario place toronto

Toronto worried government is going to totally ruin Ontario Place

Major changes are afoot at Ontario Place courtesy of the Ford government, and many Torontonians are not happy about it. 

The PC government released its fiscal roadmap yesterday in the face of what is being reported as a $14.5-billion deficit, and it appears the city will be feeling its effects in more ways than one. 

Among the several controversial measures proposed in the economic strategy, including selling liquor until 11 p.m., cutting taxes on the rich, and scrapping rent control, Ford will also be reshaping the face of Toronto's massive waterfront park completely.

A new piece of legislation called Bill 57, which was tabled alongside the economic outlook, plans to dissolve the Ontario Place Corporation (OPC) and transfer all its assets to the Crown for the use of the Province. 

The government is also repealing the Ontario Place Corporation Act, saying it wants to finally transform the former theme park into a 
"world-class, year-round" attraction.

The citizenry are now bracing themselves for what they suspect will be an eventual selling out of Ontario Place to private companies. 

The dreaded idea of Ford bringing his casino aspirations to the waterfront is now a thing, according to Finance Minister Victor Fedeli, who told Metro Morning today that "everything's possible". 

The plans fly in the face of previous governments' attempts to revitalize the aging 51-acre park into a parkland for the public

While changes have been years in the making, slow advances have been made recently, including the opening of the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail last year. 

Lead photo by

Tanya Mok


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Here's why a fancy new Toronto bridge leads literally nowhere

People keep thinking they've seen deadly 'murder hornets' in Ontario

Tunnelling is now complete for Toronto's next huge transit project

People spotting Toronto's fancy Roombas for cutting grass in parks are enthralled

Ontario just got hit with an earthquake and officials blame this mine

TTC workers are gearing up to go on strike and here's what you need to know

Here are the highest and lowest paying gig jobs at the City of Toronto right now

Yonge-Dundas Square renaming to Sankofa Square is about to become more official