I wish the Leader of the Opposition had shown the same enthusiasm and passion when their partners in the previous Liberal government left this historic place in a state of neglect and disrepair. Mr. Speaker, this will not happen under the watch of this Premier and this government, because we believe in getting things done and built—not neglected. There’s no better time to bring this iconic destination back to life, and our government remains committed to redeveloping Ontario Place in a sustainable way, respecting the historical and natural features.

Our government is bringing Ontario Place back to life, making it a remarkable, world-class, year-round destination. The improved Ontario Place will provide people of all ages with something to enjoy, including enhanced public spaces, increased access to the waterfront, pools, waterslides, health and wellness services.

The new site will feature upwards of 50 acres of free parks and public spaces for everyone to enjoy, including trails, green space and parkland, playgrounds, fountains, beaches, boardwalks, spaces for festivals and markets, as well as an updated marina with opportunities for waterside cafes and year-round restaurants.

Mr. Speaker, let’s not pretend that millions of Ontarians descend on Ontario Place to walk around on the giant asphalt pad that currently takes up most of the east island. Due to the lack of vision and action by the previous Liberal government, the only major draw for Ontario Place currently is to see a concert at Echo Beach and Budweiser Stage.

With the redevelopment of Ontario Place, we are supporting economic growth and prosperity and providing an open and enjoyable destination for all. Our investments in Ontario Place will create approximately—

Interjections.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the importance of Ontario Place as a historic, unique destination for all, and we’ll continue to engage with the public and stakeholders to ensure all perspectives from across the province are recognized and considered; not only that, we have hosted extensive public consultations on the redevelopment project, and I’m pleased to share with the House that over 9,200 people participated in this process to share their input and ideas for the future of Ontario Place.

As I’ve said, by redeveloping Ontario Place we are supporting economic growth, prosperity and providing an open and enjoyable destination for all. Our investments in Ontario Place will create approximately 5,000 new jobs during both the construction and permanent operations stages, millions of dollars in rental payments for the province, and will attract an estimated—

This is the government that is taking action. Not only are we doing the redevelopment of Ontario Place, but we’re also investing $184 billion in infrastructure over the next 10 years. This is the government that believes in taking action, and we are taking action. We are committed to redeveloping Ontario Place in a sustainable way, also respecting the historical and natural features.

As I’ve said, once Ontario Place is open, it will create approximately 5,000 new jobs, and it will attract four million to six million visitors each year. This is a place for family and friends to enjoy.