The Ontario government says it’s issuing an enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order (eMZO) to provide development permissions for new and existing land uses at Ontario Place, to help ensure the project to rebuild the public park continues without delays. The eMZO is a land use planning tool that allows the province to maintain site plan control for portions of the site and improve the publicly accessible open space on the East Island as part of the rebuild. The eMZO will also allow for expanded public spaces and parks on the West Island.

Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, issued the following statement on the province’s progress on the project: “Building on last year’s historic new deal with the City of Toronto, the province is taking the next steps in its plan to rebuild Ontario Place into a world-class, year-round destination with expanded parks and public spaces, increased waterfront access, a new public marina and family-friendly entertainment.”

Surma said the provincial government is working with Live Nation to develop an updated, year-round concert venue at the park. “Once complete, Live Nation’s brand-new amphitheatre will welcome more fans to an all-season venue by increasing its capacity to up to 20,000 people while also protecting the much-loved amphitheatre lawn,” she said.

Recently the Ontario government’s Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Ministry of Infrastructure issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for teams to design, build, finance and maintain the new Ontario Science Centre facility located at Ontario Place. The science centre plays an integral role in the park, Surma said.