[URBAN NOTE] "Bill could lead to sale of Ontario Place lands"

[rfmcdonald]

The Toronto Star's Kristin Rushowy reports from Queen's Park. We are indebted to the NDP for keeping track of this potential threat to Ontario Place.

The NDP is raising alarm bells after discovering that Ontario Place lands could be sold off under a little-known section in an upcoming bill meant to cut government red tape.

And while the tourism and culture minister cannot explain why it’s included in Bill 27 — the Burden Reduction Act — she was firm the government has no intention of getting rid of property at the cherished waterfront site.

“It’s there, I don’t know why it’s there, it’s there,” Eleanor McMahon told reporters at Queen’s Park. “I can tell you we’re not going to do it … I will say it one more time in case you missed it, we are not selling Ontario Place.”

But NDP’s GTA affairs critic Cheri DiNovo called the change a “poison pill” hidden in the omnibus bill, and wondered why the power will be granted if there are no plans to use it.

The bill allows Ontario Place to “dispose of land, buildings and structures, or any interest in land, buildings and structure, by sale, lease or otherwise.”

“This sounds ominous,” DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park) said at a press conference held at Queen’s Park with Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina) and urban planner Ken Greenberg of Ryerson University.