Ontario Place is for All of Us

Can our vision be stronger than the system?

Photo by Frank Castro on Unsplash

Ontario Place is making the news again as mayoral candidates release platform planks today detailing their plans for it. Both the site and the waterfront on which it stands are under threat from a private European firm called Therme, whose profit comes from creating massive spas and charging steep admission for them, and a lot has been writtten (here’s one great overview) about the benefits of the space and the downsides (to say the least) of allowing it to be fully privatized.

I think when it comes to so many issues around the environment and public space, we overcomplicate and muddy the waters by focussing our energy on fighting rather than finding solutions.

For me, the issue around Ontario Place, and the priceless waterfront around it, is simple. Water is critical to our lives. We hurt ourselves when we pollute the water. We hurt ourselves when we limit access to the water. And we hurt ourselves when we destroy our natural assets (for example the 850 trees slated to be cut down by the spa).

I don’t want to massively increase car traffic that pollutes the air and water while clogging Lakeshore Drive. I don’t want a development that involves destruction of the environment or addition of contaminants (including chlorine) to our already over-toxified environment. I am opposed to subsidizing private corporations with public money, and I especially don’t want our public money to subsidize the creation of underground parking lots (hundreds of millions of dollars, paid for by the provincial government). But I have no problem with a private company making a private spa. I am not opposed to profit, I am not opposed to private recreational facilities. I am not opposed to jobs.

The battle over Therme versus Ontario Place is a perfect example of how our economic and democratic systems are perverting what we all have in common. All of us, including I am sure employees and senior-level decision makers at Therme and the provincial government, want a life support system for our species (for ourselves and our families at the very least) that includes clean water, wildlife and air. I’m sure none of us want ugly replacing beauty. And, all of us can understand the desire for profit and jobs - most of us reading this make and spend money. We enjoy money as a tool for enjoying life, and we enjoy the purpose that having a job can give us.

The problem is that somehow our democracy and economy is pitting the two against our environment. Why do we have to pit profit or political motives against nature? It’s only pitting ourselves against ourselves.

Instead, I would like us to sit down together. Therme, what do you want? Profit? Jobs? How can we work with you so that you get those things, just not at the expense of our people and nature? There are areas all around the city that might have potential for a spa. There are likely areas all around the province that might have potential. What if you explored and found somewhere that you could revitalize instead of destroy? And if you needed the government to make it more profitable to do so, explain to us what that would be. Perhaps there are places that local communities and government would welcome and embrace your involvement.

The provincial government, who is putting forward this giant subsidy and happy to give that public land away, what do you want? Is there a relationship with Therme you want to encourage for some reason? Do you see potential tax revenues from the project? Are there other reasons that we at the city aren’t seeing? Why don’t we consider if you can get what you want some other way?

I know what I and so many other Torontonians want. We want a beautiful clean beach, access to the water, freedom to swim, stroll and play. I believe we absolutely deserve that. And I believe the city does have power over what happens to this land. If the political will is there, the city can act to make it either difficult or impossible to build there. The city itself could encourage the mobilisation of residents in effective and fun ways. This city is us, so rather than hand wringing and pronouncements, let’s stand firm in our “no” and work together to find the “yes” for something that will truly enhance Toronto. Let Therme find a place to make profits. Let the province get the tax revenue it wants. Let tourists come to visit and spa go-ers get pampered. And let Torontonians rejoice in what it feels like to have an incredible, publicly accessible and environmentally healthy waterfront, as we model for the world how constructive solutions can come out of conflict.