Ontario’s government has issued an enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order to bypass Toronto’s planning process and move forward with the controversial redevelopment of Ontario Place. This order allows the province to avoid local planning processes and negotiations, giving them the power to dictate the development of the area unilaterally. This tool was recently extended to the infrastructure minister, specifically for use at Ontario Place, where the government plans to build a spa, concert venue, science center, and parkland. The MZO replaces the entire local planning process, allowing the province to push ahead with its plans.
The order puts the province’s redevelopment plan for Ontario Place, including a spa, concert venue, and parkland, at a point where it can move forward. The new designs for the project include an expanded parkland commitment with nearly 16 acres of public space, up from 12.5 acres. The MZO formalizes the amount of public land and green space the project will include, as well as technical requirements for building the spa and music venue. With the zoning order in place, Toronto city council will no longer be able to weigh in on technical elements of the project, as they do with other buildings that go through the local planning process.
The Minister’s Zoning Order will apply to the entire Ontario Place site, allowing the government to maintain site plan control and make improvements to publicly accessible open spaces on both East and West Islands. The decision to use an MZO to advance the project has been met with criticism from advocacy group Ontario Place for All, who see it as setting a “terrible precedent” for future projects. The group is currently leading a court challenge against the plan, arguing that the use of an MZO to hand city-owned land to a private company for a 95-year lease is unacceptable.
Therme, the company with a lease to operate a private spa at Ontario Place, stated that it is Ontario, not the private company, that is handling the zoning and planning work for the project. The decision to use an MZO came after a deal between Ontario and Toronto, which saw the city stand down its opposition to the project. The NDP Leader has criticized the government for using unprecedented powers to move forward with a luxury spa that she believes no one asked for. The Ontario auditor general is conducting investigations into how the government has used MZOs and the redevelopment of Ontario Place, with concerns raised about the use of public money for the project.
Overall, the use of an enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order is allowing the Ontario government to fast track the controversial redevelopment of Ontario Place without the need for local planning processes or negotiations. Despite criticism from advocacy groups and opposition leaders, the government is moving forward with its plans for a spa, concert venue, science center, and parkland at Ontario Place. The extent of public consultation on the project and the government’s use of MZOs are being called into question, with ongoing investigations by the auditor general. The outcome of these investigations and continued opposition to the project may impact the future development of Ontario Place and the use of MZOs in the province.
