Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has stood as a beacon of educational enrichment and a beloved landmark. However, recent decisions by Premier Doug Ford have cast a shadow over its future. Known for its connections to influential developers and a history of prioritising private interests, Ford’s policies have repeatedly raised ethical concerns. The closure of the Centre forms part of a broader narrative of cronyism and corruption, exemplified by questionable land acquisitions and infrastructure projects benefiting those close to Ford.
Land grabs
Five years ago, the De Gasperis family, influential developers with close ties to Ford, purchased over 60 acres adjacent to the Science Centre. Shortly thereafter, Ford announced that the Ontario Line subway’s final stop would be at the Science Centre, significantly increasing the value of nearby land. The De Gasperis family, whose business empire includes the TACC Group and is worth an estimated $1.67 billion, owns substantial land adjacent to the Centre.
This pattern of potentially benefiting from insider knowledge has raised concerns about the family’s economic dynasty. They previously acquired land along the proposed route of the controversial Highway 413 and were implicated in the Greenbelt scandal of November 2022, which saw the Ford government propose to open parts of the Greenbelt—a 2-million-acre protected area—for development, sparking immediate backlash. Environmental groups, municipal leaders, and the public feared it would jeopardise the region’s ecological integrity. Several developers, including the De Gasperis family, had acquired land within the Greenbelt prior to the announcement, raising suspicions of insider trading and undue influence.
Adding fuel to the fire, Ford’s recent announcement to close the Ontario Science Centre and repurpose its property has sparked significant controversy. A third-party report by Rimkus Consulting Group, cited by Ford’s administration to justify the closure, concluded that several roof panels were in a “distressed, high-risk condition” and could fail under snow load during the winter. However, the report recommended substantial repairs rather than immediate closure—a point emphasised by Moriyama Teshima Architects, who offered their services pro bono to keep the Centre operational. Ford has not responded to this offer, further raising concerns that the timing of the closure and the repurposing of the property once again appear to benefit the De Gasperis family.
Privatization, personal gain, and preferential treatment
Ford’s plan to privatise liquor sales in Ontario further exemplifies a policy that claims to serve the public interest but instead imposes significant costs on taxpayers. The privatisation initiative is projected to burden taxpayers with over $600 million in expenses to the privately-owned Beer Store, including a direct payout of $225 million and an additional $375 million in fees that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) will have to rebate to brewers. This financial strain prompts questions about who truly benefits from such policies. Additionally, it jeopardises the livelihoods of approximately 10,000 LCBO employees, whose job security is threatened by the transition to allow ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold in grocery and convenience stores—a concerning development at a time when recent data from Food Banks Canada indicates that nearly 25% of Canadians may be living in poverty.
The suspicion that Premier Ford’s privatisation agenda is driven by personal financial interests gains further credence when examining his family’s business dealings. Ford’s family owns Deco Labels and Tags, a label-making company involved in packaging for beer and other products. Deco Labels’ website claims it is a “preferred printer” for major grocery chains like Loblaws, Metro, and Sobeys. The intertwining of Ford’s political decisions and his family’s business interests cannot be overlooked.
Further entangling private gains with public resources, Ford’s recent sale of his U.S. Deco stake to Resource Label Group LLC, which was subsequently acquired by Ares Management, suggests another potentially profitable network. Notably, Edelfried J. Balle, the CEO of Therme Group—a company awarded a $650 million public funds contract—hails from Ares Management. This connection underscores the troubling pattern where private profits come at the expense of public resources.
A $650 million public funds contract awarded to Therme Group for constructing a spa and wellness centre highlights concerns regarding Premier Ford’s privatisation efforts. Critics have raised issues about the deal’s lack of transparency and Ford’s refusal to disclose pertinent information. Furthermore, the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, which details the redevelopment plan, grants special powers to the provincial minister and exempts the project from key environmental assessments. This transaction, seen as a handout to a luxury spa project at Ontario Place, diverts essential public funds from critical areas such as healthcare and education in a province where over 1.3 million residents lack access to a family physician, and health policy experts continue to call for increased medical residency capacity.
Moreover, the involvement of Mr. Balle, formerly with the construction firm Strabag, which Ford selected to build the Scarborough Subway tunnels, further underscores the pattern of preferential treatment and potential conflicts of interest. Strabag’s partial ownership by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who is under federal sanctions due to his alleged ties with the Putin government, adds another layer of controversy to the proceedings.
Cronyism and corruption
In light of these disturbing patterns, it is clear that Premier Doug Ford’s decisions are steeped in a web of cronyism and corruption that prioritises private profits over the public interest. The De Gasperis family’s acquisitions near key infrastructure projects and protected lands, coupled with Ford’s administration’s strategic announcements, paint a damning picture of insider trading and undue influence. The closure of the Ontario Science Centre and the lucrative contracts awarded to connected entities underscore the shady manoeuvres that benefit a select few at the expense of Ontario’s taxpayers. Ford’s controversial policies—from the Greenbelt scandal to the privatisation of liquor sales and the opaque deals surrounding Ontario Place—reveal a troubling pattern of governance that sacrifices environmental integrity, public trust, and fiscal responsibility.
Although the RCMP is already investigating allegations of insider trading and undue influence in the Ford administration’s Greenbelt development decisions, and Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner is examining ethical violations and potential conflicts of interest related to land use changes, we need a thorough third-party investigation by the Ontario Ombudsman to ensure transparency and accountability.
Did you like this article? Help us produce more like it by donating $1, $2, or $5. Donate
