The NDP is raising alarm bells after discovering that Ontario Place lands could be sold off under a little-known section in an upcoming bill meant to cut government red tape.

And while the tourism and culture minister cannot explain why it’s included in Bill 27 — the Burden Reduction Act — she was firm the government has no intention of getting rid of property at the cherished waterfront site.

“It’s there, I don’t know why it’s there, it’s there,” Eleanor McMahon told reporters at Queen’s Park. “I can tell you we’re not going to do it … I will say it one more time in case you missed it, we are not selling Ontario Place.”

But NDP’s GTA affairs critic Cheri DiNovo called the change a “poison pill” hidden in the omnibus bill, and wondered why the power will be granted if there are no plans to use it.

The bill allows Ontario Place to “dispose of land, buildings and structures, or any interest in land, buildings and structure, by sale, lease or otherwise.”

“This sounds ominous,” DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park) said at a press conference held at Queen’s Park with Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina) and urban planner Ken Greenberg of Ryerson University.

“Burying an important change like that under a pile of paper … is not a transparent way of working a government and looking at changes like this,” said Layton. “Everyone who I’ve asked about this hasn’t ever heard of this change that’s being proposed. Ontarians have a right to know about what’s going on at Ontario Place and what’s going to happen with the lands.”

Much of Ontario Place was closed in 2012, with plans to revitalize and reopen by 2017. The taxpayer-owned site had seen huge drops in attendance — down to 300,000 a year from 3 million at its peak. Revitalization work has already begun with the development of a culture hub on the west island and a celebration hub on the east common,” McMahon told the Legislature.

But back in 2012, a panel on its future, headed by now-Toronto mayor John Tory, issued a report saying it needed a mix of condos and business to stay afloat. But during the last election, Premier Kathleen Wynne promised condos were not in its future.

DiNovo said this may be a way “of skirting the issue by doing it quietly. We’re here to say that is not going to happen … we are going to demand of the government a full accounting for the reason Section 16 is in the bill.”

Progressive Conservative MPP John Yakabuski said there is a lot of potential at the site, but any changes “should be the subject of extensive consultation with the stakeholders so that any decisions are made in the best interest of the people of Ontario.”

During Monday’s Question Period, the Premier said the government is committed to keeping Ontario Place public.

“We believe that Ontario Place and the property there, the trail that is being completed … is there for everyone to enjoy, and we want Ontario Place and that property to continue to be and to be once again a vibrant part of the city and a marker of the greatness and vibrancy of this province. That is our goal and that’s what we’re working on right now.”

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: