The Ford government is facing backlash after more than 800 trees were chopped down overnight on Oct. 3 at the West Island of Ontario Place.
This destruction of the property comes in preparation for the Austrian company’s stadium-sized indoor waterpark that will be built on the land. This redevelopment calls for the removal of every single tree on the western portion of the waterfront site.
The Ministry of Infrastructure said in a statement to Met Radio the smaller trees removed will be replanted at a 2:1 ratio and for more mature trees, six times as many will be planted across the site.
Ontario Place for All is a grassroots organization which is challenging development of the waterfront park. The organization co-chair Norm Di Pascale says trees are difficult to grow in an urban setting and are even harder to grow on the waterfront.
“They’re constantly battered by the elements. So what we are getting back does not resemble at all what we had.”
