In a feverish frenzy to fence-in Ontario Place, construction crews are working around-the-clock, late into the night. Last night after a late-night swim, we came upon a heavy industrial equipment erecting permanent tall steel fence posts set in concrete, not merely temporary construction hoarding fences.
This shift in Ontario Place's landscape aligns with a concerning trend of privatizing public spaces, often obscured by non-transparent and questionable deals.
Recently a family put up a sunshade for their infant child, and Janet Gates, the CEO of Ontario Place, came speeding by, driving onto the beach in her golf cart to tell them off, and to radio in "OP1 to Security, we have a structure on the beach..." to ensure security would follow up. More details can be found here.
This is what happens when public space is privatized.
Join us on October 31st, at 12:00 noon, for a rally at City Hall. We'll be supporting Olivia Chow and Ausma Malik in their effort to keep Ontario Place public. They propose relocating the private spa to an unused property at Exhibition Place. The unnecessary destruction of Michael Hough Forest and Beach, along with the potential harm to the environment and the habitats of numerous bird and fish species, must be stopped.
It is time to put an end to this fascism and save downtown Toronto's only access to fresh clean water.