Premier Doug Ford is calling for a review into Ontario’s contract with Therme Group after a shocking investigation reveals the developer may have made false claims to build a controversial megaspa at Ontario Place.
A New York Times investigation alleges that Therme may have falsely misrepresented itself as an industry player running half a dozen spas, but the probe found it only operates one in Romania. In addition, the investigation found that the company was losing money during its pitch to the province with less than $1.1 million in equity.
Now, with a 95-year lease secured, 800 trees cut down, and a fenced off piece of land that was once an Ontario landmark, Ford says he’s calling a review into the lease.
“I just wanna double and triple check the contract… and make sure everything passes the smell test,” Ford said, when confronted by reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
Ford said when he heard the news he immediately directed his team to look into the allegations, despite the shocking probe by the New York Times, Ford didn’t waste time to defend the Therme’s vision.
“This is one small part of Ontario Place, we have Live Nation, we have a real public realm… this is gonna be something spectacular at the end of the day,” he explained.
Ford went on to say that once built the attraction will become the number one tourist destination in Canada, competing with the likes of Niagara Falls.
“They’re expecting over six million visitors… it’s sure as heck better than what was there before, so we’ll work on it, I’ll find out what the story is on that,” he said.
‘Cancel the Deal’: Official Opposition urging Ford to scrap the project
During a press conference on Wednesday, NDP Leader Marit Stiles once again blasted the Ford government’s deal with Therme, and called on him to cancel it.
“We’ve been on this since day one, we knew there was something there that didn’t smell right,” she said. “Just cancel the deal.”
Stiles continued to express her frustrations on social media.
“The Premier and his Minister of Infrastructure got scammed by a broken Austrian spa company,” she said on X. “Premier, instead of ‘double-checking’ the contract, save us all the time and money, and cancel the deal.”
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie also criticized the Ford government for potentially not doing their due diligence before giving the company $2.2 billion of “tax payers hard earned money.”
“My concern is the opportunity cost, what could that $2.2 billion otherwise have done?” she said.
Advocates aim to keep Ontario Place land accessible
Ontario Place For All is a grassroots group that has been fighting against the planned spa and instead advocating to keep the land public and accessible. Co-Chair Ann-Elisabeth Samson tells Now Toronto that the Times investigation is shocking, but also a relief.
“A lot of us have had real confusion around the financial viability, the experience, the company itself…I think what we’ve suspected is sort of proven in the story itself. So, in that way, it’s a little bit of a relief that maybe we don’t seem so crazy,” she said.
Samson says that the province has yet to hand over the land, which means there is still time for the project to be scrapped, and a new Ontario Place be built, one that prioritizes public consultation.
During community meetings held by the group, Samson says several ideas have been brought forward such as bringing back a water park, building a new park and green space, and even a houseboat village; but they all have one common theme.
“We all believe that it should be something that is accessible and open to all the people of Ontario, something that celebrates where we are and the lake,” she said.
Despite Ford’s continued optimism surrounding the project, Samson says she’s hopeful that he’ll make a decision that fits the people of Ontario’s interests.
