Legal Challenge Pauses Ontario Place Redevelopment: Group Convinces Government to Halt Work Pending Court Hearing

Part of the contentious redevelopment of Ontario Place on Toronto‘s waterfront has hit a temporary pause following a legal challenge from a group aiming to protect the iconic site. The Ontario Place Protectors successfully secured a court hearing to challenge the overhaul on constitutional grounds, alleging that the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act gives the government unchecked powers exempt from judicial scrutiny.

Represented by lawyer Eric Gillespie, the coalition of heritage organizations, architectural groups, and concerned citizens will present their case at the Ontario Superior Court on July 19. In response, the provincial government agreed to halt any irreversible damage to trees, shrubs, or structures at Ontario Place until the court hearing.

The Ontario Place redevelopment, which began construction in June, aims to transform the site’s West Island into a massive spa and waterpark operated by the Austria-based company Therme. The larger project also includes plans for a revamped Budweiser Stage concert venue and a new Ontario Science Centre.

Gillespie argues that the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act undermines decades of established laws safeguarding the environment, heritage, and culture. The Act is a component of the comprehensive New Deal for Toronto Act, which grants expanded powers to the infrastructure minister and waives the site from the Environmental Assessment Act and parts of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Although Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma refrained from commenting on ongoing work at Ontario Place, the legal action has raised concerns over government overreach and potential implications beyond this particular redevelopment project. The July 19 hearing promises to be pivotal in determining the fate of Ontario Place’s transformation under the Ford Government.