Ontarians and politicians are reacting to newly released details about the Ontario Place spa.
The provincial government said on Thursday it will invest $200 million to support approximately 16 acres of free and accessible public space, shoreline protection, walking trails, parkland, gardens and a new beach as well as $700 million in upfront capital investments from Therme Canada, $500 million of which will go to build the Therme Canada spa.
“Therme Canada will deliver family-friendly entertainment and recreational activities at Ontario Place. Once complete, Ontario Place will have more than 50 acres of free public parks, beaches and green spaces, in addition to Therme Canada’s wellness services and waterpark,” Kinga Surma, minister of Infrastructure, said in a statement.
But, NDP MPP for Spadina-Fort York Chris Glover is criticizing the province as it commits to spending nearly $1.5 billion in taxpayer money on the redevelopment of Ontario Place.
In a video posted on X on Thursday afternoon, Glover spoke out against the contentious project following the release of new details outlining the terms of the provincial government’s lease with Therme Canada.
Trees are coming down at Ontario Place. This is absolutely shameful & a crime against future generations.
— Chris Glover (@chrisgloverndp) October 3, 2024
This is a forest & public parkland in downtown Toronto being destroyed for a private mega spa.
This destruction is being subsidized with $1.5 billion tax dollars.#ONpoli pic.twitter.com/Li1Ok8nd74
Nonetheless, the Ford government says redeveloping the land into a spa will create an estimated billions in revenue contributions to Ontario.
“These benefits include, at a minimum, nearly $2 billion in estimated revenue contributions from Therme Canada,” the statement said.
But Glover labelled the project “a crime against future generations.”
“We’re down at Ontario Place, they’re cutting down the trees here at the west island, it’s absolutely shameful what this government is doing,” he said to the camera.
“They started cutting the trees down in the dark of the night because everything this government does they do under the cover of darkness,” he continued.
The project will see the eradication of 850 trees and disrupt the lives of over 190 species of birds, according to the Green Party of Ontario, as well as insects and fish who spawn along the shore.
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“Instead of protecting the space for people and the endangered species that call Ontario Place home, Ford wants to bulldoze the land to build a giant glass megaspa,” the party’s website says.
“In the process, they’ll destroy the habitats of many endangered and threatened species that live on the West Island and in the waters around it,” it continues.
Following the announcement, members of the public have been reacting to the government’s newly released plans.
“This is heartbreaking. And for no other reason than unbridled greed,” one X user wrote.
“Paying for it financially and environmentally. We cannot afford to lose our green spaces,” another person said.
“Makes my blood boil,” someone else commented.
But, others were less upset.
“Nice, finally putting something useful there,” one person said.
Once complete, the new Ontario Place will have more than 50 acres of parkland and greenspaces, a year-round music and entertainment venue, a state-of-the-art Science Centre, a new marina, new free public spaces and will create thousands of new jobs, the government says.
The government anticipates an estimated six million visitors each year to the redeveloped Ontario Place lands.
