Closing Ontario Science Centre over faulty roof right move

Article content

Stick a fork in the Ontario Science Centre, it’s done. 

Article content

The province announced the abrupt closure of the facility on Friday. Rather than closing when the new science centre opens at Ontario Place in 2028, the closure was immediate. 

The roof isn’t safe, the boiler and air conditioning systems are at risk of failure and that’s on top of issues like the bridge at the entrance being shut down for at least the last two years due to structural failure. An engineering report on the roof of the 55-year-old facility said that significant rainfall or a major snowfall could result in parts of the roof collapsing. 

Reading that report was what forced the Ford government’s hand in closing the Ontario Science Centre. 

The report from engineering consulting firm Rinkus Consulting Group said “it is our opinion that buildings A, B and C are currently safe for occupancy until Oct. 31, 2024.” Beyond that, the firm wasn’t sure that the roof would hold under heavy snow. 

Article content

Article content

“A significant snow or rain loading occurrence could exceed the reduced load carrying capacity of the distressed panels, placing them at an increased risk of sudden collapse,” the report said. 

Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma said in a statement that families who have purchased memberships for admission to the science centre or who have paid for summer camps will be reimbursed. 

“The actions taken today will protect the health and safety of visitors and staff at the Ontario Science Centre, while supporting its eventual reopening in a new, state-of-the-art facility,” Surma said in a statement. 

Article content

The cost of repairing the roof of a facility already slated to close and relocate ranged between $22 million and $40 million. Given the way inflation continues to drive up prices and the inability of government institutions to control costs, you can expect the final figure to be much higher than $40 million. 

All for a facility that is at the end of its lifespan and will relocate to Ontario Place in less than five years. 

If the facility is in such poor repair that the roof won’t be safe over another winter, that the heating and air conditioning aren’t working as they should, that the bridge has been shut down for years, then this is something that executives and the science centre board need to answer for. While the opposition at Queen’s Park wants to point the finger at Premier Doug Ford, this kind of decay comes from not just years but decades of neglect and clearly those in charge — past and present — deserve the blame. 

Article content

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

If organizations like the science centre are supposed to be truly independent, then it is up to the board and the executive ranks to ensure funds are spent in a way that ensures the building is safe. It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that after decades of neglect, the science centre is closing. 

Still, the opposition is blaming Ford for this and implying he’s trying to make money off of it. 

“We all know the government’s real motive is to justify Doug Ford’s mega-spa vanity project at Ontario Place,” NDP Leader Marit Stiles said in a statement. 

Moving the science centre has nothing to do with the Therme Spa being built at Ontario Place; Stiles is just upset that a facility she will surely use is being built and she didn’t think of it. The opposition from the Ontario Liberals was even worse. 

Article content

“Doug Ford is ruining kids’ summer camps to push his own agenda and benefit his rich friends,” Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said. 

Which rich friends is Crombie talking about? 

Is she implying, as the progressive mob online quickly claimed, that Ford will sell off this land to developers? It’s owned by the city, he can’t sell the land. 

There is plenty to criticize the Ford government about, including their handling of the science centre and Ontario Place. Sadly, once again, Ford’s weak opposition misses the mark and goes well outside reality to attack the government.

Closing this facility over a potential roof collapse is the right move.

Article content