UPDATE - July 26th
Decision of Ontario Superior Court of Justice on OPP's case
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Ontario Place Protectors believes that the legislative actions taken by Premier Doug Ford to pave the way for new private operators at Ontario Place constitute a serious “breach of public trust”
For that reason, OPP has launched a court challenge on those grounds.
Who we are:
Ontario Place Protectors is broad coalition of organizations and citizens, initially formed as a reaction to the Ford government’s proposals for Ontario Place. Our concern is with the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act (ROPA) - formerly Schedule 2 of Bill 154.
On December 6th, the Ford government pushed Bill 154 through the legislature without any legislative debate or hearings and without opportunity for public comment. Our challenge reached Ontario Divisional Court minutes before Bill 154 was given Royal Assent. Our appeal has been moved to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
As it happens, the ramifications of the ROPA go far beyond Ontario Place. Left unchallenged, it will give the Ontario premier and cabinet a template to ignore Ontario’s heritage, environmental, and planning laws and their responsibility to the public anywhere in the province.
Furthermore, we contend that this law violates the Canadian Constitution and seriously threatens Ontario’s democracy.
The Rebuilding Ontario Place Act allows the Ontario Premier and cabinet to ignore the following at Ontario Place:
• Environmental Assessment Act
• Ontario Heritage Act
• Environmental Bill of Rights
• Provincial Growth Plan
• Provincial Planning Statement
• Toronto’s Noise by-laws
The ROPA says that neither the Premier nor anyone in his government may be legally challenged for any action they may take at Ontario Place, with respect to:
• contracts
• restitution
• tort
• misfeasance
• bad faith
• trust
• fiduciary obligation
Therefore, on the grounds of heritage, landscape preservation, planning, and Ontario’s longstanding commitment to constitutional democracy, OPP is challenging the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act
Documents
How You Can Help
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Spread the Word: Share information about the impact of Bill 154 and our legal challenge with your networks.
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Donate: Contributions will help cover legal expenses and support our ongoing efforts to protect Ontario Place.
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