Decision on court challenge to stop redevelopment of Ontario Place to be made by July 26

Construction work at Ontario Place will remain on hold for at least another week after a judge reserved her decision on a grass-roots organization’s attempt to stop the Ford government’s redevelopment of Ontario Place.

The judge heard arguments Friday in Ontario Superior Court from lawyers for the government and the group Ontario Place Protectors who are challenging the government’s Rebuilding Ontario Place Act as unconstitutional.

The law, which was part of Bill 154, exempts Ontario Place from the Environmental Assessment Act and the Ontario Heritage Act will also not apply to portions of the redevelopment.

“The request our client made is that the decision be one that essentially there wouldn’t be any further work at Ontario Place until some of these issues get resolved,” said lawyer Eric Gillespie who represents the group opposed to the development. “So if the court agrees with that we believe that would be the appropriate outcome.”

The decision is expected by July 26 and the Ford government has agreed to pause work at the waterfront attraction until then.

This is the latest attempt by community advocates to try and stop the Ford government from building a $350 million water park and spa on the West Island. The project will also include a new year-round stage for concerts from LiveNation and the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre.

Last month the grassroots organization Ontario Place for All lost a legal challenge after the government’s law exempted the West Island from undergoing an environmental assessment before the project moved forward.

Ontario Place opened to great fanfare in 1971 and was a popular destination, but it became dated and obsolete until it was finally shuttered in 2011.