GUELPH — MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to news that the environmental assessment conducted on the proposed Ontario Place redevelopment did not take into account the addition of the Therme megaspa or the expansion of the Live Nation concert venue.
“Given this government’s environmental track record, it’s no surprise that their so-called environmental assessment of the Ontario Place redevelopment fails to consider the massive private projects that will dominate most of the space.
But make no mistake: cutting down hundreds of trees, destroying wildlife habitats and installing an enormous private spa complex on public land is not going to have an environmental benefit.
Selling off dozens of acres of public land to a handful of private corporations with no strings attached is not going to have an environmental benefit.
Ontarians are right to ask questions. Especially when billions of their taxpayer dollars are on the line.
The Ontario Place revitalization should lead with sustainability and public space. It should be connected to surrounding communities with public access to the waterfront and much needed park space.
And it should respect the park’s initial vision – to be a public park for people of all ages, not a pay-to-play luxury spa with a few public walkways in its shadow.
Public land should be in public hands.
We can’t let this half-baked damage control tactic distract us from Ford’s real agenda: sell off public land to private hands, and leave the people of Ontario to pay the price.”