Bombshell AG report says Ontario Place redevelopment not fair, transparent or accountable [Video]

High-ranking political staff were intimately involved in the initial process to re-develop Ontario Place, the province’s auditor general has found, leading to a process that was ultimately “not fair, transparent or accountable.”

A bombshell auditor general report released Tuesday revealed “there were many instances where the rules and guidelines” outlined for bidders looking to redevelop the Toronto waterfront attraction “were not followed” by the Ford government.

The controversial redevelopment plan is also becoming more expensive, the report found. Since 2019, the estimated public cost of redeveloping Ontario Place has increased by $1.8 billion to a total of $2.2 billion.

The current Ontario Place plan will see a private spa built by the Austrian company Therme on the west island, along with a revamped Live Nation music venue, parkland and a relocated Ontario Science Centre.

As Global News has previously reported, the auditor general also raised concerns the bidding process for Ontario Place fell short …