New Mega Projects: Ontario Place, Science Centre & Convention Centre
Who decides the city’s biggest projects, and for whom?
About This Issue
New Mega Projects: Ontario Place, Science Centre & Convention Centre is emerging as a meaningful Toronto election issue because residents feel its effects directly in daily life. This page explains why new mega projects: ontario place, science centre & convention centre matters, how it connects to broader city debates, and what voters should ask candidates who want to shape Toronto’s next term.
What City Council Controls
City council influences important parts of this issue through budgets, bylaws, planning decisions, operations, service levels and public advocacy. In many cases, the province or federal government also matters, which is why candidates should be clear about both municipal powers and municipal limits.
Questions to Ask Candidates
- What is your practical plan on new mega projects: ontario place, science centre & convention centre over the next council term?
- What tradeoffs would your approach involve for residents, businesses or neighbourhoods?
- Which parts of this issue can Toronto control directly, and which require action from other governments?
- How would the public know whether your plan is working?
- What would you prioritize first if elected?
Why This Matters in Toronto
Several large, province-led or province-shaped projects, including the redevelopment of Ontario Place, the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre and plans for a new convention centre, raise questions about public land, access, consultation and how Toronto's biggest assets are shaped. These projects affect residents through traffic, public access, neighbourhood change and the broader question of who decides the city's future. Because several of these projects are led by the provincial government, the city's role is often about planning coordination, local impacts and advocacy rather than direct control. Residents may be more affected by the day-to-day consequences, construction, traffic and changes to public access, than by the high-level decisions themselves. Candidates may differ on how hard the city should push for public input, on whether to cooperate or contest provincial plans, and on what conditions should surround public land and access. Voters may want to ask candidates how they would protect residents' interests when major projects are shaped by other governments, and what they would do to ensure these projects benefit the city rather than only imposing costs on it.
Key Voices in the Debate
- Local residents
- BIAs
- Neighbourhood advocates
- Urban design voices
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does new mega projects: ontario place, science centre & convention centre matter in the Toronto election?
Large province-led or province-shaped projects raise questions about access, consultation, traffic and whether public land remains truly public.
What can City Council do about new mega projects: ontario place, science centre & convention centre?
City council influences important parts of this issue through budgets, bylaws, planning decisions, operations, service levels and public advocacy. In many cases, the province or federal government also matters, which is why candidates should be clear about both municipal powers and municipal limits.
What should voters ask candidates about new mega projects: ontario place, science centre & convention centre?
Voters should ask what candidates would prioritize first, what trade-offs their plan involves, and which parts of the issue Toronto can control directly.