‘I think it’s a great idea,’ Ford supports moving Science Centre to Ontario Place

Premier Doug Ford appeared to tease an announcement on the future of Ontario Place that could see a merger of two popular city attractions.

Ford expressed support for the idea of moving the Ontario Science Centre to the waterfront space and all but confirmed an announcement would be coming soon. He made the comment while making a jobs announcement in Kitchener on Thursday morning.

“That came on the table, probably a year ago,” said Ford when asked about the prospect of relocating the Science Centre. “I personally think it’s a great idea. If I told you now, my minister of infrastructure would shoot me on the spot. Stay tuned to next week.”

Ford goes on to say “I think you know where I’m going with that“ he suggests housing could possibly take the spot of the science centre. 2/2

— Richard Southern (@RichardCityNews) April 13, 2023

Former Toronto councillor and mayoral candidate Ana Bailão announced last week she would support relocating the 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.

Bailão said she would like to see clear the former science centre space to make room for 5,000 new homes, including 1,500 affordable homes, something she says is possible because city staff looked into it years ago.

“I am pleased to hear that Premier Ford and I agree on this proposal,” she said in a statement released following Ford’s comment. “We need to be building homes near parks and transit to make life better and more affordable for Torontonians.”

Ford called the idea of clearing the grounds for new housing a “tremendous opportunity.”

“There’s a lot of high rises and density around that whole area,” Ford said. “That’s where the Ontario Line is going to go too.”

Coun. Josh Matlow, also a mayoral candidate, says Ford should reconsider his comments, noting the community which is currently home to the Science Centre has serious concerns about any potential move.

“The Science Centre delivers programs to young people in these underserved neighbourhoods, and is an important part of a burgeoning cultural district that includes the Aga Khan Museum,” Matlow said in a statement.

“It would be a serious blow to this community to lose the Science Centre just as the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown’s ‘Science Centre’ station is about to make the attraction more accessible to the entire city.”

The oft-delayed Eglinton-Crosstown is slated to open sometime in 2023. The Ontario Line is not expected to be complete until 2031.

One opposition MPP says the province hasn’t provided enough information to determine if the move to merge the two landmarks would be a good idea.

Chris Glover, who represents the riding in which Ontario Place is located, acknowledged there is a great need for housing, but called the premier’s comments “bizarre” and “pie-in-the-sky musings.”

“This sort of back-of-the-napkin planning without any meaningful public consultation or even a conversation with the impacted communities is not uncommon for this government. They are once again avoiding accountability, transparency, and their responsibilities to the people of this province,” he said.

“The biggest concern that I have with Ford and his talking about affordable housing is, they’ve redefined affordable to be 80 per cent of the market rate.” He says housing in Toronto remains unaffordable for most people under those guidelines.

“I think this is a bit of distraction,” added Glover, adding the opposition has been asking for accounting of how much taxpayers will pay for the refurbishment of Ontario Place.

The province has proposed a 65,000 square metre private entertainment, water recreation and wellness centre for the waterfront site.

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.

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

Matlow announced last week he would put a halt to the Ford government’s plan for the 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 modern park.

Candidate Mitzie Hunter says any redevelopment of the space needs to be driven by public input. She called the province’s current proposal “ambitious” but says it needs significant adjustments.