Latest news with #OntarioScienceCentre
Global News
5 days ago
- Business
- Global News
New Metrolinx CEO contract includes potential 6-figure bonus
New Metrolinx CEO Michael Lindsay could earn just over $820,000 in the next year between performance bonuses and his salary. Details of Lindsay's contract, posted through an Order in Council, show he will receive a base salary of roughly $687,000 per year with a performance-based bonus of up to 20 per cent. It is not clear exactly what Lindsay would need to do in a year to unlock his entire bonus. If he were to achieve it, he would take home a grand total of $823,879.20. That would be a little less than the $883,990.63 former CEO Phil Verster earned in 2024, his final year at the helm of the provincial transit agency. Verster was also given a vehicle allowance of roughly $12,000 despite not owning a car. That perk has not been extended to Lindsay. Story continues below advertisement Lindsay joined Metrolinx from Infrastructure Ontario, another provincial agency. There, he fronted several controversial government announcements like the closure of the Ontario Science Centre, as well as overseeing a massive portfolio of public land and construction projects. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy He has run Metrolinx as an interim leader since Verster left and officially took on the role full-time on July 1. 'I am humbled and honoured to have been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Metrolinx,' Lindsay said in a statement distributed by Metrolinx. 'As a proud resident of Toronto, and a lifelong transit commuter, I understand the importance of connecting the region and building the transit network communities need and deserve.' The Ministry of Transportation said Lindsay's salary was decided by the chair of Metrolinx's board, and bonuses would only be given for hitting certain targets. They said the bonuses written into Lindsay's contract followed the same structure as Verster's. Verster's tenure at the top of Metrolinx was plagued by delays to major transit projects like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which still does not have an official opening date. Ontario NDP shadow public transit minister Doly Begum said she was concerned Lindsay would face similar struggles. 'The former CEO collected an annual salary of almost a million dollars of taxpayers' money and what did we get for it? Confusion and more delays,' she said in a written statement. Story continues below advertisement 'We need full transparency and clear timelines. That's the only way we can make sure that another CEO doesn't get away with a huge cheque while front line workers get laid off.'
Calgary Herald
7 days ago
- General
- Calgary Herald
Ford: Too many blind to the beauty of our past
Article content The grass was soft, the waterfront location cool and the forum was unique. Article content A performance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture by the Toronto Symphony was memorable in and of itself. But to have its dramatic climax accompanied by cannon fire from the decommissioned warship HMCS Haida turned that 1970s experience into a lifetime memory. More than 50 years later, I can still hear the drums, brass and the cannonade as clearly as if it were yesterday. Article content Ontario Place opened the waterfront to landlocked city dwellers. Many won't understand what I am talking about. Ontario Place closed in 2012, labelled as neglected, an expensive drain on the provincial budget. Article content Complaints about cost and purpose started as soon as the ground was broken for its construction. It was called an expensive boondoggle and, if memory serves me well, a columnist for the Hamilton Spectator carped about the waste of money, which could have been spent on more important projects. I believe he mentioned water treatment. Article content Article content Before the newly renovated and mostly privatized islands are opened to those with money to spend on specialized spa treatments, I remember the glory days. I remember the glorious feeling of being able to sit on grass with a breeze off the lake and the freedom from the stifling heat of my apartment. Indeed, there are still public parks and open spaces, but Ontario Place was something special. Article content All of this is occasioned by its renovation and the release of the final design. Did I mention it will include a $400-million parking garage and, in 2029, the relocation of another downtown gem, the Ontario Science Centre? Article content Should any of this matter to Calgarians? It should, before those who see no beauty in age and longevity 'reform' this city. Consider the world's oldest building still in use: Rome's Pantheon, built to honour the gods around 125 AD. Since the 7th century, it has been a Roman Catholic church.
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Track conditions at Exhibition Place presents tire challenge for IndyCar Series race
TORONTO - Even IndyCar Series drivers are annoyed with the road conditions in Toronto. Kyle Kirkwood of the United States had the fastest lap in the first practice round of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on Friday, completing the course around Exhibition Place in one minute 1.205 seconds. Kirkwood and Australia's Will Power, who was fastest in the all-car wave, both said that the section of the street course entering Turn 3 was particularly rough. 'Massive bump, new bump at the end of the straight and into three,' said Power, who won in Toronto in 2007, 2010 and 2016. 'Like, actually hurts. It's so bad. Right in the braking zone, boom.' Kirkwood agreed with Power during their post-practice news conference. 'They repaved something,' said Kirkwood, describing the stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard just east of Ontario Drive. 'That bridge used to go there, right? 'For some reason, they put a strip of pavement just in that section.' Power and Kirkwood were referring to a section of Lake Shore that is under construction as Ontario Place is torn down and replaced by Therme Spa and a waterpark. The redevelopment has received heavy criticism, including a report from Ontario's auditor general in December that said the submission process for the deal was not fair or transparent. Auditor general Shelley Spence also found that it will cost more for the government to build a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place's old site than it would have to maintain the site it abruptly closed in 2024 in Toronto's northeast corner. Although Power and Kirkwood were presumably unaware of the controversy around the development, they were still very concerned about the resulting bump on Lake Shore, the westbound straightaway where their open-wheel cars build up most of their speed for the 11-turn, 2.874-kilometre course. 'I honestly think they need to grind it tonight, because it'll hurt racing,' said Power. 'Because you'll be very apprehensive to go up the inside. 'They should grind it.' Scott McLaughlin of New Zealand was second in 1:01.341 and Spain's Alex Palou, the IndyCar Series points leader, was third in 1:01.599. Power was fifth in 1:01.854 and reigning champion Colton Herta of the U.S. was 10th in 1:02.022. Toronto's Devlin DeFrancesco, the only Canadian entered in the IndyCar Series race, was 25th in 1:02.9283. IndyCar announced earlier in the day that Scott Dixon received a six-position starting grid penalty for an unapproved engine change following last week's race at Iowa Speedway. Dixon, from New Zealand, is a four-time champion in Toronto, second only to all-time great Michael Andretti's seven wins. Headlined by an IndyCar Series race on Sunday, there's a total of nine races from several series and a variety of automobile classes over the weekend. Kirkwood and Power noted that because there's no IndyCar Lights or other supporting series racing in Toronto this weekend there was less rubber on the road to help with their tires' grip on the bumpy and mixed surface. 'That's probably the lowest amount of grip I've driven in an IndyCar in a very long time,' said Kirkwood. 'We don't have any Lights that are usually running on Firestones and helping build up the grip. 'So we were sweeping, in a sense, for the rest of the session and then for the rest of the weekend.' Admission to Exhibition Place was free on Friday, although fans were encouraged to donate to Make-A-Wish Canada. Both Power and Kirkwood commented on how many spectators were in attendance. 'I was sitting there and I looked up and the grandstands were full,' said Power. 'I was really impressed. 'And the autograph session. How many people there? When we left, the line was massive. Good attendance so far, very good.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
National Post
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- National Post
Randall Denley: A gorgeous, revamped Ontario Place is another provincial gift for Torontonians to hate
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is probably the best political friend the city of Toronto has ever had. But no matter how many billions of provincial tax dollars Ford spends to help his hometown, some Torontonians remain ungrateful. Article content Rather than settle for looking a gift horse in the mouth, they rush to the other end of the horse and pronounce themselves very unhappy with what they see. The latest example is the final design for a dramatically revamped Ontario Place, announced by Ford this week. Article content Article content Drawings show a spectacular-looking future for the decrepit, provincially owned waterfront park. As the government puts it, 'The reimagined Ontario Place will offer more than 50 acres of free public trails, expanded green space, playgrounds, interactive fountains, new beaches, event spaces and an updated marina, all designed to create a world-class waterfront destination that will attract up to six million visitors every year.' Article content Nevertheless, some Torontonians are upset because the site will include a parking garage for the convenience of wrongheaded people who insist on using cars. This follows the scandal of a waterpark and spa that will be owned by a private company, even though the land it sits on is public. Then there is the plan to build a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place. How many more of these horrible blows will Torontonians have to endure? Article content Article content Despite the new Ontario Place's obvious attractions, the parking garage was the main item in media coverage. It's glass-sided and not bad looking, for a parking garage. The government says the 3,500-space garage will cost $400 million to build and generate $60 million in gross revenue annually. If so, it's not a bad investment for taxpayers. Article content Article content And yet, Toronto NDP MPP Chris Glover said the government shouldn't try 'to make money off the backs of the people of Ontario to access their own parkland.' Toronto city councillor Ausma Malik complained because the garage blocks the view of the waterfront. Local news site BlogTO called the garage 'obnoxiously huge.' Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the reimagined Ontario Place 'is not revitalization. It is a reckless misuse of public land and a waste of money.' Article content
Global News
24-06-2025
- Science
- Global News
No decision on temporary Ontario Science Centre location, minister says
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Ontario's infrastructure minister says the government has not decided whether there will be a temporary science centre while a new one is being built at Ontario Place. The province had previously pledged to open a temporary science centre by Jan. 1, 2026. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The province abruptly closed the Ontario Science Centre a year ago, saying the roof needed urgent repairs – a claim workers and critics do not agree with. Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma says the future of two science centre pop-up exhibits in Toronto has also not been decided. She says other municipalities would like to host some exhibits and the science centre is currently weighing its options. Premier Doug Ford unveiled final designs Tuesday for the revamped Ontario Place that will include a five-storey parking garage that will cost taxpayers $400 million.
