Ontario Science Centre Relocation Delayed Until 2029, Costs Rise by $400M

The Ontario auditor general's report reveals increased costs and a revised timeline for the controversial move to Ontario Place.

The permanent new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place is now expected to open in 2029, a year later than initially announced by the Ford government.
The project's cost has risen by nearly $400 million since the 2023 business case, bringing the total to an estimated $1.4 billion.
Critics, including NDP Leader Marit Stiles, argue that revitalizing the original site would have been more cost-effective and question the necessity of the relocation.
The government plans to open a temporary science centre by 2026, though it will be significantly smaller, occupying 50,000 to 100,000 square feet compared to the original's 568,000 square feet.
Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma has declined to comment, citing an ongoing integrity investigation into the Ontario Place redevelopment process.