Because the Ford government works to maneuver the Ontario Science Centre from its historic dwelling to a brand new flagship location on the waterfront, the province is in search of a guide to information the imaginative and prescient, a transfer that’s setting off alarm bells for some advocates.
The province is within the midst of relocating the science centre from Don Mills Highway and Eglinton Avenue to Ontario Place, after shuttering its present dwelling final yr in a transfer justified by obvious structural points with the constructing’s roof.
Closing the science centre was a controversial transfer which sparked political backlash and native protests, with advocates claiming that the federal government had allowed the constructing to fall right into a state of disrepair to justify shifting the attraction to Ontario Place.
The choice to maneuver the science centre to Ontario Place was introduced within the spring of 2023 and abruptly sped up the subsequent yr, when it was closed with only a few hours’ notice.
As a part of the transfer to Ontario Place, the federal government has issued a name for bids on a contract to assist information the science centre’s mission and programming at its new dwelling.
Get breaking Nationwide information
For information impacting Canada and around the globe, join breaking information alerts delivered on to you once they occur.
“The Ontario Science Centre’s 10-year Strategic Grasp Plan will assist to determine methods for the group to meet its provincial mandate,” a spokesperson informed International Information.
“As preparations transfer forward for the brand new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place, this 10-year Strategic Plan will assist information the group by means of the interim interval. It’s going to additionally assist to outline methods and programming on the new facility to place the Science Centre for achievement.”
Critics of the federal government steered its plan was back-to-front.
Jason Ash, the co-chair of the advocacy group Save Ontario Science Centre, mentioned paperwork like a 10-year strategic plan ought to be used to work out if shifting areas is a good suggestion.
“On this case, the strategic plan is coming years after the relocation determination has been made and the closure has occurred,” he mentioned. “So, that appears backwards to us.”
Ash additionally questioned whether or not the federal government must pay an exterior guide to provide you with its future casting plan.
“It appears the federal government completely ought to have the talents in-house — whether or not the management crew at Ontario Science Centre, the management crew at Infrastructure Ontario or simply the Ontario Public Service on the whole,” he mentioned.
“We’re confused and anxious why it even must exit for a non-public tender.”
The federal government indicated that the ultimate price of the contract shouldn’t be out there and will likely be decided as consultants bid on it.
Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover mentioned the science centre at its authentic location was a “international chief” and known as the choice to maneuver it “shameful.”
“They’re ranging from scratch — they’ve laid off the folks with the experience,” he mentioned. “It’s shameful and it’s actually exhausting for our children. A complete era of children goes to overlook out on that sort of science schooling.”
© 2025 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
Source link