Last week it was announced that the Ontario Science Centre (OSC), located in the North York area of Toronto, would be closed.
Ontario Infrastructure minister Kinga Surma cited a consultant’s report that claims that some of the tiles on the roof of the OSC are in poor condition, and that therefore, the building had to be closed to the public.
That, however, is not what the consultant’s report says.
The report, authored by Rimkus Consulting Group, who inspected the roof, states that all three buildings that make up the OSC are safe for occupancy currently and up to October 31, 2024.
“As roof renewals are not required immediately at all areas, a risk management strategy is recommended,” the report reads.
The public has been quick to support the OSC, with a rally held over the weekend.
Floyd Ruskin manages the Save Ontario’s Science Centre website and social media accounts. In an interview with rabble.ca, Ruskin said that the Ford government’s excuse for closing the site does not stand up to scrutiny, and that there is “no reason to close” the OSC.
“Yeah, there’s a roof leak. Are some of those panels in critical condition? No. Does the building have to be closed? Absolutely not,” he said. “You isolate the area, you fix the panel, you leave the building open. The Royal Ontario Museum is undergoing a $350 million renovation. It is not closed. They are doing roof work and structural work while the building is open with ancient artifacts in the building.”
Moriyama Teshima Architects, the firm that designed the current OSC site, issued a statement on the closure.
“The government’s recent decision to abruptly, rashly, and permanently close the OSC was a shock. We have never swayed from our belief that this institution must be preserved and is a critical part of the province’s identity—a place of wonder and discovery for Ontarians and visitors alike,” their statement reads.
Leaders across political spectrum oppose closure
Every other major provincial political party leader in Ontario has announced their opposition to the decision to close the OSC.
“Ontario’s Liberals won’t back down in the fight to save the Science Centre,” said Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie.
Green Party leader Mike Scheiner said that this was just another example of Doug Ford doing something to support his rich donors, many of whom are property developers.
“When it benefits his insider buddies, Doug Ford will go above and beyond. He’ll rewrite the decades old Greenbelt act, build a $10 billion highway, or pave over a public park. When it benefits everyday Ontarians, he won’t lift a finger,” wrote Schreiner in a tweet in response to the news of the closure of the OSC.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow blamed successive provincial governments for failing to keep up with maintenance on the OSC site.
“The announced closure of the Ontario Science Centre is a painful loss for the city, across generations new and old. I’m deeply disappointed that successive provincial governments have let it fall into such disrepair over the years,” Chow wrote in a statement to the media.
Chow further stated that Toronto City Council will be considering a motion that asks for a review of the provinces’ responsibilities to the OSC.
Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles said that the Ford government’s decision to close the OSC was tied to their determination to privatize Ontario Place.
Are you as furious as I am about Ford’s unacceptable decision to shut down the @OntScienceCtr with a few hours notice?
We know what this is all about – his vanity Ontario Place project.
Join me tomorrow w/ @SaveOSC, @JILLSLASTWORD and @kristynwongtam to save the centre! https://t.co/sgfP8SKKIj
— Marit Stiles (@MaritStiles) June 22, 2024
Ford government determined to move Science Centre
The government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford had announced in 2023 that it intended to move the OSC to a smaller location on Toronto’s waterfront at Ontario Place.
Moriyama Teshima stated that they opposed the plan to move the OSC.
“Our position remains that a relocated science centre on a significantly smaller scale and with the reduced program being contemplated for the tight Ontario Place site does a disservice to the people of Ontario, and to the educational mandate of both the Government of Ontario and the OSC,” the statement from Moriyama Teshima reads. “ We believe that the existing building on Don Mills Road should be rejuvenated and retained as the Ontario Science Centre—a function for which it was purpose-built.”
Currently a public park, the Ford government has promoted a plan by private company Therme Group to privatize some of the park for the creation of a spa, which would include paving part of the park to create a parking lot.
LISTEN: Keeping Ontario Place a place for all
When asked if he thought the Ford government’s decision to close OSC had anything to do with their plans for Ontario Place, Ruskin laughed out loud.
“First of all, in the Auditor General’s report, the province promised parking to Therme Spa. They said ‘we’ll build this $600 million parking garage and to take away some of the focus we’ll put this half-size science centre on top,” Ruskin said, referring to a report by Ontario’s Auditor General from December of 2023 that was highly critical of Ford’s decision to move the OSC to Ontario Place.
“Although the Province has been assessing this relocation since 2016, our audit found that the recent decision for the relocation was made without the benefit of input from all stakeholders and with preliminary and incomplete cost information. Also, in some instances where information was available, it was not included in the proposal to government decision-makers,” the Auditor General’s report reads.
The report states that not only would the new OSC site at Ontario Place be half the size of its current location, but that it would also have 18 per cent less exhibition space and would be less accessible to the public.
If followed through, the plan to move the OSC would see the institution closed until 2028.
“I’m just a concerned citizen, man,” said Ruskin. “I’m a parent, you know, we’ve enjoyed the Science Center.”
Ruskin is encouraging members of the public who are concerned about the closure and proposed move of the OSC to write letters to their local MPP to tell them to oppose the Ford government’s decision.
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