Conservatives continue to hide details of 95-year backroom deal to hand over public parkland to a private spa

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina – Fort York) has released the following statement in response to Therme’s updated plans for its private spa at Ontario Place:

“These splashy new designs do nothing to provide Ontarians with the transparency we need about the Ford Conservatives’ backroom deal to privatize precious public parkland.

From the Greenbelt to Ontario Place to privatized health care – we know this government’s record and we cannot trust them to act in the best interests of ordinary Ontarians. Time and time again, Ford’s Conservatives have shown us that their interests and loyalties lie with a select few well-connected insiders. They continue to hide the details of this 95-year lease to give away some of the most valuable public parkland to a private corporation.”

Quick Facts:

• The Ford government has failed to share the details of the 95-year lease that they have given Therme, a private European company focused on building an elite spa
• The province is subsidizing this elite luxury private spa with a $650 million mega parking structure and site preparation
• Both Ford and his Minister of Infrastructure have failed to provide a business case justifying the need to demolish the current Ontario Science Centre and move it to Ontario Place
• The environmental assessment for the redevelopment of Ontario Place did not include Therme’s plans and as of right now there is still no additional environmental assessment to look at the impact of this project