I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, 2025, and its proposal to exempt the Ontario Place redevelopment from the Environmental Bill of Rights. This is a clear attempt to silence public voices and fast-track decisions that could permanently damage a beloved public space.

As a constituent of this riding, I am deeply concerned by the government’s disregard for public engagement, environmental protection, and accountability. Ontario Place has never just been land on the waterfront. It has been a gathering place, a cultural space, and a park filled with memories. I remember walking along the trails with my family, sitting by the water, and watching films at the Cinesphere. Most recently, the documentary Your Tomorrow brought those memories into focus. Directed by Ali Weinstein, the film captures the final year of Ontario Place before redevelopment and offers a powerful tribute to the community that made it special. It was recognized as the second runner-up for the People’s Choice Documentary Award at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and named a finalist for the Rogers Best Canadian Documentary Award. These honours reflect how deeply the public values Ontario Place. It is not just as a site, but as a story and a legacy worth preserving for future generations to come.

Removing environmental oversight is not in the public interest. It shuts out the people who use this space and ignores the environmental responsibilities we all share. The government should not get to rewrite the rules to serve private development, especially when the public has made it clear they want Ontario Place to remain public and accessible.

This legislation does not protect Ontario. It protects private interests while weakening environmental protections and public accountability. A redevelopment of this scale must include environmental assessments, Indigenous consultation, and community feedback at every stage. Anything less is unacceptable.

I urge the Government of Ontario to withdraw this proposal. Respect the environment. Respect the public. Ontario Place belongs to all of us.