The Ford government’s plans to privatize Ontario Place are forging ahead. 

After three years of failing to meet with community groups – and a month after announcing plans for the site – the Ford government launched a public consultation this week. 

What is there left to consult about?

The online survey limits the scope of public input to whether they’d like washrooms on the site (it’s actually one of the questions) and ranking the importance of the heritage architecture, suggesting that the government may have eyes on demolishing some of it. 

The Ford government has said that it is maintaining the original vision of Ontario Place. But its new vision for Ontario Place is as a two-tiered venue with those who can afford it accessing concerts, playgrounds and indoor swimming pools under glass domes, and those who can’t afford it relegated to walking trails. A beach and an existing park will remain free of charge. 

But the original vision of Ontario Place when it was opened in 1971 was to build an inclusive Ontario community, to showcase our province and to strengthen our economy. Everyone could enter for a nominal fee ($1 for adults and 50 cents for children, $7 and $3.50 in 2021 dollars). 

The admission price offered access to all of the venues and activities – IMAX movies at the Cinesphere, concerts at the amphitheatre and the playgrounds of the Children’s Village. 

In describing the community being built by Ontario Place, then Premier John Robarts stated that it was a place for the “involvement and enjoyment of all the people of Ontario”. 

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