Thread by @chrisgloverndp

Therme does not belong at Ontario Place.

New revelations from legislative committee about this rotten deal (with many thanks to @jennkfrench):

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#ONpoli
@ONPlace4All

* The Ford gov't extended the deadline for Ontario Place proposals six days before the original deadline. One of the late submissions? Therme

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* Even after Ford awarded them Ontario Place, Therme applied to redevelop a decommissioned power plant in Niagara - if they like that site, why not build there?

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* The Ford gov't had no Fairness Monitor overseeing the bidding process - unheard of for an Infrastructure Ontario process.

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Again, Kinga Surma said it is cheaper to demolish the Science Centre & build a new one. The cost? She doesn't know.

Therme hired 2 Conservative lobbyists in Sept 2018, months before there was a public announcement of plans to redevelop Ontario Place. Were they tipped off?

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The original RFP said bidders would be responsible for parking. Now the Ford Conservatives are offering a $450 M taxpayer-funded parking garage not offered to other bidders.

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Therme is only 20 years old and was nearly bankrupt during the pandemic, but the Conservatives are offering them a 95-year lease on our public parkland.

Ford refuses to disclose the terms of the lease.

spacing.ca/toronto/2023/0…

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Early in the bid process, the Ford Conservatives changed the regulations of the Environmental Assessment Act to exempt projects like Therme's.

Once again: Therme does not belong at Ontario Place.

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