Ontario Awards $200M Contract for Ontario Place Parking Garage

The Ontario government has awarded a $198 million contract to Pomerleau Inc. for the design and construction of a new five-storey parking garage at Ontario Place. This structure is set to include 3,500 parking spots and 680 electric vehicle charging stations.

Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho stated that the contract award reaffirms the government's commitment to building the parking garage at a reasonable cost to taxpayers, emphasizing its potential to generate revenue for the province. Provincial calculations predict the garage could bring in $60 million in gross revenue annually once Ontario Place is fully operational.

The parking structure, initially envisioned as underground, will now be above-ground near Ontario Place on Toronto's waterfront. The province had previously considered moving it to Exhibition Place to avoid obstructing waterfront views, but contractual obligations related to a nearby spa development limit its relocation to within 650 meters of the current site.

Premier Doug Ford had weighed the cost benefits of an underground versus above-ground structure, considering the impact on views. The broader Ontario Place redevelopment includes a new concert venue, parkland, a science center, and a private spa and waterpark operated by Therme under a 95-year lease. The government is investing over $2 billion to support the spa's development.

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Today’s contract award reaffirms our government’s position, under the leadership of Premier Ford, that this parking garage, which will produce revenue for the province, can and will be built at a cost that is reasonable and respectful to taxpayers.