The Ford government took another step in its plans to redevelop Ontario Place on Friday.
Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced she issued an enhanced minister’s zoning order (eMZO), an even more powerful tool than a regular minister’s zoning order (MZO).
Unlike a regular MZO, where the project proponent would still have to work with the city, an eMZO gives the province full control over the site plan process.
The enhanced order will allow the province to “make much-needed improvements to the publicly accessible open space on the east island as part of the rebuild of Ontario Place. The eMZO will also allow for expanded public spaces and parks on the west island,” Surma said in a release.
Issuing MZOs is a new power for Surma. In November, she introduced legislation granting herself the power previously afforded to just the minister of municipal affairs and housing. The bill also exempted parts of the site from environmental assessment and heritage laws.
Ontario Place for All, an advocacy organization opposed to the government’s redevelopment plans, called the infrastructure minister’s announcement on Friday disappointing.
“Ontario Place for All is disappointed that the MZO process is being used to steal city-owned land at Ontario Place and place it into the control of a private mega spa (referring to the Therme spa) for 95 years. Given this government’s corrupt track record with MZOs, giving the Ministry of Infrastructure access to the MZO tool sets a terrible precedent for our public institutions,” said Norm DiPasquale, chair of Ontario Place for All, in a statement to The Trillium.
Ontario Place for All is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the province over the redevelopment.
The group wants a court to require the provincial government to complete a full environmental assessment of Ontario Place’s west island, where Therme is set to build its private spa and waterpark. If successful, the activist group’s court challenge could delay the project for months, or more.
A three-judge panel will soon decide whether to dismiss the case.
Therme, the company behind the planned spa, welcomed Friday’s news.
“Since the New Deal between Toronto and Ontario, the provincial government has been responsible for zoning related to this project. Therme Canada remains committed to opening a family-friendly destination that will welcome millions of visitors back to Ontario Place, and to creating more public space than currently exists on the west island. We will continue to work with all stakeholders and levels of government as the renewal of Ontario Place moves forward,” said Simon Bredin, a Therme spokesperson, in a statement to The Trillium.
Therme’s slated to be one of three major tenants at the new Ontario Place. The others are the Ontario Science Centre and Live Nation.
In November, the province and City of Toronto signed a deal where the city would relinquish control of the Ontario Place planning process in exchange for uploading the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway, plus money for transit and housing.
On May 9, the province also issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design and build the new science centre. The province wants to have the request for proposals out by Nov. 8, 2024, according to the RFQ documents.
