The Ontario Science Centre Closure & Ford’s Controversial Intentions

Sarah Schell

The Ontario Science Centre has been instructed, by the wishes of the Ford government, to shut down after 55 years of operation since its opening to the public in 1969. The Ford government claims to be shutting down the centre due safety concerns, as recent engineering reports state that the current roof was estimated to collapse by October 2024 if no action was taken to repair it (CBC News). This comes with controversy as government officials have decided to close the centre and relocate it to a site in Ontario Place, rather than repair damage to the current roof and leave the centre standing at 770 Don Mills Road. 

Despite the findings of the engineers, they did not suggest that an immediate closure of the Science Centre would be necessary for public safety, but the Ford government decided to shut it down, claiming it would be too expensive to repair. But, there are a number of factors that point to the government deciding to close and reopen it in Ontario Place for an opportunity to boost revenue, rather than because of the repair costs to the original building. 

Before the engineer’s reports that the roof was expected to collapse in a short period of time, Ford’s government was hinting that the Science Centre would be a great attraction to move to Ontario Place in 2023. In early 2019, the government made the controversial decision to renovate Ontario Place, (Infrastructure Ontario) with renovations including “an indoor water park and spa complex, a revamped concert venue and an ‘adventure park’” (City News). The upgrades to Ontario Place are speculated to cost around $650 million, while the repairs for the current science centre were speculated by the Ontario government to cost around $369 - $478 million (Canadian Architect). 

It is difficult not to point out the hypocrisy of the $478 million repair being deemed as too expensive but at the same time, knowing the government is putting over $100 million more in taxpayer dollars to renovate a public park to include facilities that will make them more revenue. It is notable that Ontario Place had no former issues that needed repair, such as failing infrastructure, which is what posed safety concerns for the Science Centre. Additionally, the $650 million being put in place for the current renovations to Ontario Place will undoubtedly become higher as the Ford government constructs an entirely new Science Centre in the area. Other findings have also reported that panels of the same roof of the Science Centre that were deemed too dangerous to still have up, are still placed in hundreds of buildings around Ontario- but the Science Centre has been the only building with these panels to shut down (CBC News). 

Because of these decisions, there has been plenty of controversy around the closure and reopening of the Science Centre, with points being raised about how much money is going into Ontario Place & the entirely new Science Centre planned to be constructed, versus the government’s initial claims that repairing the current building would be too expensive. This hypocrisy is leading many to believe that the ‘reasons’ of costs being too high to repair is merely an excuse to remove it and place it somewhere the government believes they will gain more money; and the threat of the roof collapsing was their opportunity.

Statement Directory:

Bowden, Olivia. “Ontario Science Centre to Close Immediately: Province.” Www.Cbcnews.Ca, CBC News, 21 June 2024, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-science-centre-closing-roof-1.7242810. 

“Ontario Place Revitalization.” Www.Infrastructureontario.Ca, Infrastructure Ontario, www.infrastructureontario.ca/en/what-we-do/projectssearch/ontario-place-revita lization/ Accessed 31 July 2024. 

“Here’s the Latest on the Province’s Plan to Move the Science Centre to Ontario Place.” Www.Cbc.Ca, CBC News, 22 Apr. 2023, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-place-science-centre-latest-1.6817983. 

Lam, Elsa. “The True Cost of Repairing the Ontario Science Centre Is Much, Much Less than What Infrastructure Ontario Has Been Saying - and the Proof Is in Its Own Documents.” Www.Candianarchitect.Com, Canadian Architect, 8 July 2024, www.canadianarchitect.com/the-true-cost-of-repairing-the-ontario-science-centre-is-much-much-less-than-what-infrastructure-ontario-has-been-saying-and-the-p roof-is-in-its-own-documents/ 

Crawley, Mike. “Hundreds of Buildings with Science Centre Roof Panels Remain Open.” Www.Cbc.Ca, CBC News, 26 June 2024, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-science-centre-closure-roof-concrete-panels-raac-1.7245973.