NDP: Conservatives bulldoze ahead with irresponsible science centre scheme

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s Conservatives have taken the next step in bulldozing ahead with their rigged and fiscally irresponsible scheme to close the Ontario Science Centre and hand over Ontario Place to a private corporate conglomerate for a luxury spa.

"Despite everything we have learned about how this project came together, Ford’s Conservatives are adamant to push through with their nonsensical decision to close down the Ontario Science Centre instead of invest in better programming. Let’s let the Science Centre live up to its full potential, instead of letting it crumble,” said Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale–High Park), Official Opposition NDP critic for GTA Issues.

“Instead of listening to the community, Ford is making a massive gift to a private luxury spa company and wasting millions if not billions of public dollars. Ontarians need to know why.”

In December, the Ontario NDP and the Auditor General’s report confirmed that Ford’s Conservatives had decided to move the Science Centre years before the public ever knew about it, and based their decision on inadequate information.

When Infrastructure Ontario released their “business case,” Official Opposition Leader Marit Stiles pointed out that this is simply a “shell game to justify the spa,” as it excluded key costs, consultations with stakeholders, and driven by the need to justify a publicly-funded parking garage for Therme’s luxury spa.

The Conservatives’ new Ontario Science Centre would be roughly half the size and employ fewer people.

In the meantime, Ford’s Conservatives continue to bulldoze through Ontario Place and have now closed West Island to push through with their luxury spa scheme, despite concerns raised by stakeholders, residents, and experts.