Item - 2019.EP2.11

The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the City Manager to contact the Province of Ontario to urgently request that both governments work together to develop a strategy for jointly planning the future of Ontario Place and Exhibition Place in a collaborative, co-operative, and consultative manner with all stakeholders, including Exhibition Place.

2.  City Council direct the City Manager to include the following matters for consideration in developing the joint strategy:

a. The 2017-2019 Exhibition Place Strategic Plan;

b. The 2011 Festival Plaza Master Plan including a recommendation of a land bridge link between both sites with consideration of pedestrian flows and bicycle infrastructure;

c. Public transit initiatives, including the 2018 Waterfront Transit Network Plan;

d. Traffic congestion concerns and the impact of major event management on congestion for the sites and residential communities;

e. Utility infrastructure capacities for both Ontario Place and Exhibition Place taking into consideration future development potential;

f. Cooperative approaches to operating efficiencies for both sites, including operating and maintenance services; and

g. The Central Waterfront Secondary Plan.

3.  City Council request the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee on the progress of Recommendations 1 and 2.

4.  City Council request the City Manager to update the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place on the progress of Recommendations 1 and 2, on a regular basis.

During my time as Chair, several directions have been taken by the Board with respect to Ontario Place and Exhibition Place related to joint strategic planning activities, increasing the physical integration of the sites and greater cooperation at the management level.  At its meeting of December 16, 2011, I made the following motion that was adopted by the Board:

“A committee of the Board be established made up of the Chair, Vice-Chair and Chief Executive Officer to meet with a similar Committee of the Board of Directors of Ontario Place to explore increased physical integration of the sites and cooperation between Ontario Place and Exhibition Place.”

Later, at the Board meeting of February 14, 2014, I brought a further report on a motion to City Council for “City Council to request the Province of Ontario to enter into a formal co-operative venture with the City, to jointly plan and revitalize the Ontario Place and Exhibition Place lands.”

While some actions have been taken by the City and Province since 2014, in 2019, Ontario Place and Exhibition Place are at a key point in time.  As part of the 2017 - 2019 Strategic Plan, the Board has committed to undertaking a Master Planning exercise for Exhibition Place and in the fall of 2019 the Board will be undertaking the development of a new strategic plan for the years 2020 - 2025.  With respect to Ontario Place, Premier Ford has appointed Mr. James Ginou as chair the Ontario Place Board and the Honourable Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, announced a new vision for Ontario Place and that an Expression of Interest process will open this spring. 

I believe that action is necessary now and I am looking for the support of the Board of Governors for my recommendation to ask City Council to urgently reach out to the Province of Ontario to request that both governments work together to develop a strategy to jointly plan the future of Ontario Place and Exhibition Place.