The Canadian Press obtained this information through a freedom of information request.
The move of this science museum arouses controversy, as does the project to build a private spa by the Therme company at Place de l’Ontario, (new window) on the shores of Lake Ontario.
For NDP leader Marit Stiles, spending so much public funds to try to justify an unjustifiable project, according to her, makes “no sense”.
Spending a million dollars to produce a bogus supporting statement is the height of ridiculousness.
Liberal MP Adil Shamji is “outraged” to see that the Ford government spent so much on consultant fees to “hear what it wanted to hear.” Green Leader Mike Schreiner also describes this expenditure as “unjustified”.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow initially opposed the provincial plan for the revitalization of Ontario Place, but later said the city does not have the power to put obstacles in the way of the province (new window).
Savings, depending on the province
According to the government’s feasibility study, building a new Science Center at Ontario Place rather than renovating the current building would lead to savings of $257 million (new window) over 50 years.
The Ford government has not yet responded to our request for comment on the information obtained by The Canadian Press.
In a written statement to the news agency, a spokesperson for Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma said the expenditure on the feasibility study was “necessary” to make an “informed” decision.
Spokesperson Ash Milton adds that “reputable” consultants were hired by the government for this study.
Ontario’s interim auditor general, Nick Stavropoulos, concluded last December that the feasibility study was “incomplete” because it did not take into account funding for the parking lot the province has committed to building at Ontario Place as part of its contract with Therme.
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