On February 1, the provincial government announced the iconic, provincially-owned park was shutting its gates after 40 years of public operation, without any true plans for the property’s future. The closure has caused public outcry on Facebook to keep the beautiful, waterfront public space open.

Employees of Ontario Place will take their campaign to keep the landmark waterfront park open to Nathan Phillips Square on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

The stated purpose of the closure is to plan a redevelopment of the 96-acre park, which first opened in 1971. However, there is really no valid reason to close Ontario Place while the plan is being done. The government falsely claims that Ontario Place is losing over $20,000,000 a year but, in reality, the average “loss” (before applying applicable Provincial operating and property tax grants) is just over $6 million. That is not a bad price to pay for a facility that serves hundreds of thousands of guests every year, brings tourists to Toronto and provides much-needed summer employment for 600 students.