No Condos at Ontario Place

Revitalized Site to Feature Live Music, Green Space and Cultural Activities


Monday, May 19, 2014


Premier Kathleen Wynne has ruled out residential construction – including condo development – as part of the Liberal plan to revitalize Ontario Place. Instead, a re-elected Liberal government would create a ‘must see’, all-season waterfront destination for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy.

 

As part of the Ontario Liberal vision for the revitalized Ontario Place site, residents and visitors would benefit from an accessible green space to experience a variety of recreational and cultural activities. The Liberal vision for a revitalized Ontario Place would include:

  • Creating a music destination that would bring live music acts to the site all year-round.
  • Developing a separate major cultural attraction, beyond the music.
  • Building a new 7.5 acre urban park, completed in time for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.
  • Establishing a new waterfront trail that would connect Ontario Place to the existing Martin Goodman trail.
  • Protecting and re-purposing the existing Cinesphere and pods as an important part of the cultural heritage of the site
  • Lining a waterfront canal district with stores and restaurants

 

The Liberal plan to revitalize Ontario Place is a balanced approach to development and planning. Premier Kathleen Wynne will also take steps to encourage smarter growth across the province by giving citizens more say over planning decisions, increasing access to trails, expanding the Greenbelt, protecting the Great Lakes, and investing in a cycling strategy that will encourage more people to choose cycling for recreation, tourism or transit.

 

The recently unveiled Hudak PC platform makes no mention of Ontario Place, planning, green space or the important role the arts and culture sector plays in job creation, particularly for young people.

 

Quote

“Ontario Liberals believe that Toronto’s waterfront should be for everyone to enjoy. Thoughtful and careful planning for the future of this site will make it an attractive destination for tourists and local residents alike. Ruling out residential development is part of that plan.”

---Premier Kathleen Wynne

 

Quick Facts 

  • Ontario Liberals are making an initial commitment of $100 million for the pre-development phase of the Ontario Place revitalization project.
  • Ontario’s music industry is number one in Canada. The 2013 Budget created a new $45 million Ontario Music Fund, part of which has been used to bring the JUNO Awards back to Ontario in 2015
  • Tourism in Ontario employs over 300,000 people and is the largest single employer of young workers
  • Ontario Place first opened on May 22, 1971 and attracted 2.5 million visitors in its first year
  • Cinesphere was the world's first permanent IMAX® theatre

 

For further information, contact
Ontario Liberal Party
Blane McPhail
416 230 2084