Premier Doug Ford says his government is “looking at options right now” for a massive new Toronto convention centre that could include reclaimed land along the shore of Lake Ontario.
“I wouldn’t call it an island, but we may look at putting fill in until we can put (in) a convention centre,” Ford told reporters Friday in Mississauga.
While city-owned Exhibition Place, which has 192 acres of underutilized land, is the likeliest location for the proposed two-million-square-foot convention centre, the premier said there are other possibilities.
“We’re looking at options right now, but we need a convention centre,” he said.
The premier said he has consulted with Mayor Olivia Chow on the landfill idea.
“I did talk to the mayor about it and she was endorsing it. Because we need more land,” he said, acknowledging many environmental hurdles would have to be cleared before tonnes of landfill could be dumped in the lake.
“Look, that’s what would happen first. It’s no different than anything else. The environmental process would move forward. But we have a tremendous amount of fill right now, and we need to expand the land.”
Braman Thillainathan, a spokesperson for Chow, said “the mayor has said she is prepared to work with the province if they plan to invest in upgrading the convention centre to attract more visitors and more business.”
“Any major development proposal would be reviewed to ensure it is in the best interest of Toronto and communities along the waterfront,” said Thillainathan.
“We have not received a formal proposal on the future of the convention centre,” he added.
Ford’s comments came after the Globe and Mail reported he was “considering the creation of an artificial island” just west of Ontario Place. The 1971 park was built using landfill and is currently being redeveloped to house a relocated Ontario Science Centre and a Therme waterpark and spa, among other attractions.
A senior government official, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations, emphasized “everything is very preliminary” when it comes to the possible new convention centre Ford first touted last week.
The premier reiterated the existing 442,000-square-foot Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which opened in 1984 and was last expanded in 1997, is no longer fit for purpose.
“Right now, it’s on a seven-acre site. It’s a terrible site, we all agree,” he said of the Front Street complex located beside the CN Tower.
“We’re losing a massive amount of business, so we’ll build … something out of this world for … the city of Toronto, but also for Ontario,” said Ford.
“We’re losing out on so many large conventions in the world because we just don’t have the size and it’s a dated convention (centre). But we’re exploring that.”
Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said “it is absolute insanity” to be spending public dollars on such a scheme.
“How much are taxpayers going to be on the hook for Ford’s Fantasy Island? He’s acting like a billionaire except it’s our money,” said Fraser.
“His priority should be making people’s daily lives easier.”
Exhibition Place is the front-runner for a new conference complex because it will be served by the forthcoming Ontario Line subway and a potentially expanded Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
The site, home to Toronto FC’s BMO Field — a venue for this summer’s FIFA World Cup — also includes Coca-Cola Coliseum and the one-million-square-foot Enercare Centre convention venue, and it is adjacent to Ontario Place.
There are also numerous acres of land barely used outside the annual 18-day Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), a summer agricultural fair dating back to 1879.
With files from Rob Ferguson and Alyshah Hasham
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