Mayoral candidates lay out visions for Ontario Place land

The future of Ontario Place is top of mind for several of Toronto’s mayoral candidates who are revealing their plans for the space should they be elected.

Mayoral candidates Ana Bailão, Josh Matlow and Mitzie Hunter made separate announcements about what they would like to see happen to the key piece of Toronto waterfront real estate.

Former councillor Bailão announced Thursday morning she would support relocating the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place. She says the move would free up the land the Science Centre currently occupies and make room for new housing.

“I would approve building homes, including affordable homes, on the city-owned land where the Science Centre is now located,” she said, speaking at Ontario Place on Thursday morning.

Bailão says the former Science Centre space would make room for 5,000 new homes, including 1,500 affordable homes.

“By building new homes here, residents would be able to live close to where they work with access to transit on the Ontario Line and Eglinton Crosstown,” reads a release from her campaign.

“To accelerate progress on housing we need to be bold and innovative. This is a smart solution for Ontario Place.”

The province is proposing a 65,000 square metre private entertainment, water recreation and wellness centre for the site. The proposal from the Ford government needs the city’s approval.

Bailão argues that “spending $500 million of taxpayer dollars to subsidize a private spa is the wrong thing to do.”

Matlow supports modern public park over ‘privatized spa’

Coun. Josh Matlow laid out his vision for Ontario Place shortly after, vowing to keep the waterfront space public if he were to be elected mayor.

Matlow announced he would put a halt on the Ford government’s plan for a private spa by “withholding the 16 acres of city-owned property” the province needs to go ahead with its proposal. If elected, he would instead support plans for a revitalized park.

“These land are not for sale,” he said. “As we just read in a city report, the province has said they need city property to enable the development of this private spa.”

Public access to the waterfront has been a major source of conflict. The controversial plan from the province to have the Austrian-based Therme group build a spa resort and water park on the property has led to groups like Ontario Place for All to speak up for more public space.

“We’re going to say no to Premier Ford, and we’re going to say no to the privatization of our waterfront,” Matlow says. “As mayor, we’re going to keep our waterfront here at Ontario Place public for many years to come.”

He says he would work with the province, landscapers, and community groups, to help create the modern new waterfront park.

Hunter says ‘ambitious’ plan needs significant adjustments

Hunter says any redevelopment of the space needs to be driven by public input.

Calling it an “iconic attraction,” Hunter says Ontario Place must be preserved and enhanced, be suitable for both Torontonians and tourists and must be affordable and accessible for all.

“I am not going to be a mayor who simply says no, as we need to say yes to the right things,” says Hunter. “The current proposal does not meet these tests.”

Hunter adds while the current proposal is “ambitious” it needs significant adjustments.

“We must take the time to get this right. That includes an environmental assessment. There is still work to be done by the proponent and others for this particular proposal to meet my rigorous tests required to get it done right.”

Nominations for mayoral candidates opened on April 3, and so far 31 people have registered to run for mayor.

The byelection to choose who will replace John Tory is set for June 26.

With files from Mark McAllister