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'very low' chance city can operate science centre on its own, report says
the feasibility of the city of toronto to assume operat...
jul 16 2024
2 minute read
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the feasibility of the city of toronto to assume operation of the ontario science centre is “very low,” according to a report that will be presented on tuesday to council’s executive committee.
a supplemental report from the city manager , dated july 10, said aside from “critical” repair needs, the viability of assuming control of the science centre would be challenged by lacklustre revenues, a “declining brand” and the province’s plan to re-establish the facility at ontario place.
“for the city to assume operations, assuming the loss of the provincial operating grant which would likely move to establish the osc at a new site, the city would need to find an additional $20.2 million in operating revenue every year, over and above earned revenues,” said the report from paul johnson, noting the funding shortfall would be “significantly larger” than what they provide to other cultural institutions.
“these revenues can also be expected to decline as the asset is facing a declining brand and the site will require at least partial closure for extended periods of time to allow for necessary capital repairs to be completed.”
the province announced the immediate closure of the science centre on june 21, citing “serious structural issues” identified in an engineering report by rimkus consulting group including roof panels found to be in a “distressed, high-risk” condition and that required fixing by oct. 31 to avoid a potential failure due to snow load.
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a ministry of infrastructure technical briefing said roof repairs alone were expected to cost $40 million, take two to five years to complete and required the centre to be vacant.
mayor olivia chow supported a motion by councillor josh matlow last month to ask staff to examine the province’s obligations and to look at the feasibility of the city taking over operations, while also providing an overview of the province’s value-for-money audit of the centre and its business case for moving it to ontario place.
matlow said he will hold a news conference tuesday morning with members of the save ontario’s science centre group to discuss their next steps.
i’ll be holding a press conference at city hall tomorrow at 9:15am, joined by @saveosc, to share our next steps to save the ontario science centre.
— josh matlow (@joshmatlow) july 15, 2024
johnson’s report said city staff were unable to validate the province’s relocation business case or the auditor general’s findings and that “additional due diligence and further discussions with the province and the trca are required to understand the province’s obligations and intentions with respect to the current osc site.”
the report also said the costs to restore the science centre to a state of good repair are “considerable” with estimates topping $500 million and the facility running a net loss of $784,000 in 2023, according to financial reports.
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“given current uncertainties, potential for activation of the current osc site is not well understood and any decisions regarding whether the city could or should participate in any future operations would need to be informed by additional research, consultation, financial analysis and broader new deal considerations as part of any future negotiations,” the report said.
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