Unusual Ontario Place redevelopment bidding process leads to fresh questions [Video]

The NDP is asking fresh questions about the Ford government’s redevelopment of Ontario Place, particularly its plan to build a waterfront spa, after unearthing a new document laying out an unusual bidding process.

Using freedom of information laws, the Ontario NDP obtained a government form for companies that were interested in the Ontario Place redevelopment project in 2019.

According to the form, companies that wanted to build at Ontario Place would be subject to strict and rare conditions. Interested parties had to sign a non-disclosure agreement promising not to promote their ideas for Ontario Place and agree that it is “not a legally binding procurement process.”

The form, seen by Global News, also suggested that the Ford government would retain total control. The government could select a winner, even if they had not submitted a bid, or if they had failed to meet its criteria.

Part of the form read: “The province may select a …