Ontario Place is fading into history as the Doug Ford government moves ahead with plans to turn the lakeside family playground into a “world-class attraction” that could include a casino.The Progressive Conservative government is moving to dissolve the board and corporation that oversees Ontario Place, transferring control of its 51 prime waterfront acres to the province.Finance Minister Vic Fedeli was asked Friday on CBC Radio about his government’s plans for the site which opened as a family-friendly theme park in 1971, but was shuttered by the Dalton McGuinty Liberal government in 2012 to save money.“I think we want to see that become a world-class attraction. We’re going to spend a considerable amount of time looking at what we can do there to make the best use of that jewel,” Fedeli said.When asked by Metro Morning host Matt Galloway if a casino is possible on the site south of Exhibition Place, Fedeli said: “Look, everything’s possible down there. “I’m not saying that (casino) is one that has been discussed, because, quite frankly, it’s not one that has come up in my file, but I think we’re going to look at every single possibility to make that a world-class centre, and I would say nothing is off the table. “We’ve got to start looking at everything. We can’t be afraid to look at a bold vision for the former Ontario Place.”The Star revealed in September that Ford has a personal interest and plans for Ontario Place, where his Liberal predecessor Kathleen Wynne in 2017 unveiled a $30-million, 7.5-acre waterfront park on the site of a former parking lot.For now it’s “business as usual” at the site, Ontario Place officials said Friday, with winter activites running from Nov. 23 to Mar. 17, including an artificial skating rink on the West Island, community bonfires, a light festival and films in the Cinesphere.During his one term as a Toronto council ...
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