Ontario Place Redevelopment: Toronto's Most Controversial Infrastructure Project

Fig. 1. Ontario Place (2023) after closing, and prior to demolition. Exhibtion Place can be seen just north of Ontario Place, followed by the Gardiner Expressway, and Liberty Village.

December 2025

If you've driven past Exhibition Place lately, you've seen it: construction fences, demolition, and the transformation of one of Toronto's most iconic waterfront spaces. The Ontario Place redevelopment is moving full steam ahead, and it's become the second most divisive infrastructure project (let's not forget the Eglinton Crossline) in the city's recent history.

What's Actually Being Built?

The redeveloped Ontario Place will include approximately 50 acres of public park space and is anticipated to have between four and six million visitors a year. Here's what's coming to the 155-acre site:

The Therme Spa Complex: A 33,000 square metre private wellness facility featuring 10 pools, 20 water slides, 14 saunas, and 9 steam rooms. Tickets will start at $40 per person. Austrian company Therme Group holds a 95-year lease for the West Island. https://www.thermecanada.com

The Relocated Ontario Science Centre: Moving from its Don Mills location to Ontario Place, integrating with the iconic Cinesphere and pod structures. https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/what-we-do/projectssearch/new-ontario-science-centre-facility/

Expanded Live Nation Venue: An upgraded concert space building on the existing Budweiser Stage.

Public Realm: Over 50 acres of free public spaces including trails, beaches, playgrounds, interactive fountains, and an updated marina.

The Parking Problem: A five-storey, 2,800-spot parking garage (1,600 for Therme, 1,200 for Live Nation) with an estimated cost of $400 million.

The Infrastructure Impact: More Than Just Buildings

From a critical infrastructure perspective, this project touches nearly every system we've discussed on this blog:

Transit Connections

The Ontario Line station at Exhibition Place will create a connection to the GO Transit rail network, making Ontario Place a major transit hub. The $27 billion Ontario Line (yes, billion) is scheduled for completion in 2031 and will run 15.6 kilometres from Exhibition to the Ontario Science Centre.

But here's the paradox: we're building a massive parking garage at the same time we're creating a major rapid transit connection. Construction at Ontario Place is expected to begin this fall, with work to upgrade the site's existing water, electrical, and gas infrastructure.

Water & Wastewater Systems

In July 2025, Infrastructure Ontario issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for construction management services to realign and modify the combined sewer overflow at the site. This is the first step in selecting qualified teams, with shortlisted firms invited to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP) expected in early 2026.

Major companies likely to bid include heavy civil contractors with Toronto water infrastructure experience such as Aecon Group (who worked on the Gardiner Expressway and CN Tower infrastructure), EllisDon, Graham Construction, Dufferin Construction (CRH Canada), and specialized firms like those represented by the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (over 200 member companies). Moving sewer infrastructure on waterfront property is complex, expensive work that affects how the entire area manages stormwater.

Power and Communications

Upgrading electrical systems for an estimated 4-6 million annual visitors means significant strain on the local grid. Based on Finnish swimming pool studies, large spa facilities consume approximately 396 kWh per square meter annually for heating, plus 240 kWh per square meter for electrical systems.

For Therme's 33,000 square meter facility, this translates to roughly 21 million kWh per year – enough to power about 2,000 average Toronto homes. The facility will require industrial-level power for heating 10 pools year-round (including outdoor pools in winter), plus water slides, saunas, steam rooms, climate control, and lighting. The Science Centre will need additional reliable power for interactive exhibits and environmental systems.

To put this in perspective: Therme alone could consume as much electricity as the entire High Park neighbourhood (roughly 2,000 households), running 24/7/365.

The Price Tag That Keeps Growing

Here's where things get interesting for taxpayers. As of February 2024, Infrastructure Ontario projected the total cost of the Ontario Place redevelopment to be $2.2 billion.

Breaking that down:

• Public realm development: Over $500 million

• Parking structure: $400 million (though Ford says it will generate $60 million a year)

• New Ontario Science Centre: Cost increased nearly $400 million from original estimates

• Site servicing and preparation: Doubled from $183.5 million to $391.9 million

• Heritage structure restoration (Pods and Cinesphere): Nearly $97 million

  
  

For context, the original 2019 plan had minimal public costs. The province's decision to act as "master developer" rather than selecting a comprehensive site-wide developer fundamentally changed the cost structure. Instead of choosing one developer to handle the entire site (including public realm and parking), the province selected multiple partners for different pieces (Therme, Live Nation, Écorécreo) and took on responsibility for connecting infrastructure itself through Infrastructure Ontario. Seven of the 10 original comprehensive proposals included designs and funding for public realm development, and seven included parking solutions with funding—meaning the province could have had much of this paid for privately. By choosing the piecemeal approach, Ontario taxpayers inherited the $500+ million public realm bill and the $400 million parking garage cost.

The Controversy: Why People Are Upset

Public opinion has been sharply divided. A May 2025 INsauga poll found 86.9 percent of respondents (957 people) opposed the spa development, with only 13% in support. Interestingly, a 2022 poll commissioned by Therme Canada found 85% supported redeveloping Ontario Place with both recreational facilities and parkland—showing support for some redevelopment, though the specific Therme proposal has faced opposition. The reasons for opposition go beyond simple NIMBY-ism:

The Therme Problem: A New York Times investigation alleged Therme had falsely represented itself as operating more spas in Europe than it actually was, alongside losing money at the time it was pitching its vision. An Ontario Auditor General's report found the selection process was "not fair, transparent or accountable."

Environmental Concerns: Hundreds of mature trees were removed, and an environmental study noted that if an agreement to transfer City-owned water and land to the Province was not reached, "expropriation will be required."

Privatization of Public Space: Giving a 95-year lease to a foreign company for prime waterfront land struck many as short-sighted, especially when the present value of 95 years of rent payments is only worth about $163 million in today's dollars.

The Mystery Parking Garage: Initially estimated to cost up to $1.3 billion if built underground beneath the Science Centre, or $800 million if built underground at Exhibition Place, the above-ground five-storey version is now pegged at $400 million. Premier Ford claims it will generate $60 million annually in revenue—but questions remain about whether this pencils out, especially given the province is contractually obligated to provide these spots or face financial penalties.

The Infrastructure Perspective

Setting aside the politics, this project represents a fascinating case study in infrastructure interdependence:

1. Transit-oriented development... with parking: The project simultaneously embraces and rejects modern planning principles. Major transit investment? Yes. But also a 2,800-space parking garage. Here's the interesting paradox: with 4-6 million expected annual visitors, perhaps both are necessary? On a peak summer weekend day, the site could see 20,000-30,000 visitors. Even if half arrive by transit via the new Ontario Line connection, that still leaves 10,000-15,000 people who might drive—families from the suburbs, visitors from outside the GTA, or people visiting multiple destinations. However, the congestion is real—anyone who's tried leaving Exhibition Place after a Marlies game or CNE knows the frustration of 45+ minute waits just to exit the grounds. Adding thousands more vehicles daily raises serious questions about traffic flow.

   
   

2. Utility upgrades unlock development: The water, electrical, and gas infrastructure upgrades will benefit the entire Exhibition/Liberty Village area, not just Ontario Place.

   
   

3. Long-term thinking... or wishful thinking?: A 95-year lease requires confidence in Toronto's long-term growth, climate resilience, and the viability of destination entertainment in an era of rapid technological change.

   
   

4. The "last mile" problem: The province has allocated over $60 million for a connection between the Ontario Line terminus and Ontario Place—potentially including gondolas, shuttle buses, or autonomous vehicles.

   
   

What Happens Next?

Construction is well underway with a target opening of 2029 (though Premier Ford has cautiously called it "hopefully 2029"). As of December 2025, site preparation continues including tree removal, demolition, and infrastructure work. With Ford's Progressive Conservatives winning a third consecutive majority in the February 2025 election—the first time a party has done so since 1959—the project now has clear political runway through the expected 2029 election, making it virtually certain to proceed as planned.

For Toronto's infrastructure, Ontario Place represents a $2.2 billion bet on:

• Mixed public-private partnerships for major developments

• Destination tourism as an economic driver

• Car-oriented infrastructure alongside transit investment

• The ability of infrastructure to shape urban development (or be shaped by it)

  
  

The Bottom Line

Whether you love it or hate it, the Ontario Place redevelopment will fundamentally change Toronto's waterfront for the next century. It's a master class in how infrastructure decisions—from transit lines to parking garages to sewer systems—shape not just how a city functions, but who it serves and what it values.

As construction continues, we'll be watching how this project impacts everything from traffic patterns on Lake Shore Boulevard to electricity demand during winter, from Exhibition Place operations during the CNE to whether that new Ontario Line connection can actually handle six million annual visitors without dedicated parking.

What do you think about the Ontario Place redevelopment? Will it become the tourism magnet the province hopes for, or a cautionary tale about privatizing public space? Share your thoughts in the comments, and check back for updates as construction progresses.