The NDP is asking fresh questions about the Ford government’s redevelopment of Ontario Place , particularly its plan to build a waterfront spa, after unearthing a new document laying out an unusual bidding process. Using freedom of information laws, the Ontario NDP obtained a government form for companies that were interested in the Ontario Place redevelopment project in 2019. According to the form, companies that wanted to build at Ontario Place would be subject to strict and rare conditions.
Interested parties had to sign a non-disclosure agreement promising not to promote their ideas for Ontario Place and agree that it is “not a legally binding procurement process.” The form, seen by Global News, also suggested that the Ford government would retain total control. The government could select a winner, even if they had not submitted a bid, or if they had failed to meet its criteria.
Part of the form read: “The province may select a party which did not submit a response to this Process to Seek Development Concepts or whose response did not meet the requirements.” Those who signed up also gave up ownership of their ideas, the terms said. “The Province shall become the owner of all programming, concepts and ideas contained within such response and/or Submission,” part of the document read.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Infrastructure, which is leading the Ontario Place project, said that Therme and Live Nation, the two companies building on the waterfront sit.