Toronto First Parliament Site | ?m | ?s

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As I noted above!

Important Notice​


The public meeting scheduled for this Thursday, January 21, 2021, has been postponed.

The Project Team has been advised that the Province of Ontario has initiated expropriation proceedings for the First Parliament lands currently owned by the City of Toronto. City staff will be meeting with the Province to understand the nature of the expropriation, and we will share any information that we receive with you.

As of this email – this is all the information we have.

We are eager to share our work and get your thoughts on the First Parliament Master Plan — this work is important to us. A new date and time for the online meeting will be emailed to you and promoted through the project webpage as soon as possible.

Stay safe and be well,

—The First Parliament Project Team

 
First Parliament Site Expropriation Update

The City has learned that the Province of Ontario has initiated expropriation proceedings for the First Parliament Site lands owned by the City of Toronto. I am deeply concerned by the lack of collaboration by the Province, and the potential risk to this important historical site and city-building project.

As you well know, the First Parliament lands are a site of local, provincial and national significance. Following thousands of years of human activity and use by Indigenous communities, in 1797 the site became the location of the first purpose-built buildings to house the Parliament of Upper Canada. After its destruction by United States forces in the War of 1812, a Second Parliament building, followed by a district gaol (jail), and then the Consumers' Gas Company buildings occupied the site.

Years of community advocacy by you, your organization, and championed by the late Deputy Mayor McConnell, led to the uncovering of the archeological heritage at the site, and the lands were later secured into public hands by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the City of Toronto.

The First Parliament site is to be developed for a mix of public uses in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust. The First Parliament Project team has engaged stakeholders and the public, completed a Heritage Interpretation Strategy, and is leading a Master Plan process to develop an implementation framework for the vision. City Council has approved a new district library for the site. New public open space, commemoration of the heritage of the site, and new public use opportunities are being explored.

Last year, we learned that the Province's Ontario Line project would place a subway station in the vicinity of the site. Metrolinx had informed the City that the area around the future station, including the First Parliament lands, would be required for construction staging and an access shaft, for the duration of several years of construction. Plans for redevelopment of the site would be delayed, while the City moved ahead with planning its future use.

The notice of expropriation by the Province to take permanent ownership of the site now raises serious concerns for the planned public uses for the site, including critical community facilities such as the district library. Successful city-building requires collaboration between government partners, working together on shared objectives. I will continue to work with Councillor Wong-Tam, stakeholders, and the public to secure the goals that our community and leaders like former Mayor Deputy McConnell have envisioned for this important site.

The public meeting on the Master Plan scheduled for January 21st is being postponed while City staff meet with the Province to gain more understanding of the expropriation, and will be rescheduled shortly to update the public. You can register to receive updates on the project by visiting the First Parliament Project webpage. I will continue to keep you updated.

Tom Davidson
Director, Waterfront Initiatives
Office of Councillor Joe Cressy
Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York
 
Though I would certainly like to see the plans for the site continuing to develop sooner than later, I can understand that it is a good location for a staging and construction area for Metrolinx as they build the Ontario Line. There were (and still are) two options.

1. The City can allow the Metrolinx work to proceed on this City-owned land but when the Line is built the site would be returned to the City OR the
2. The Province expropriates it and when the Metrolinx work is finished the Province owns the land and can sell it for development.

The City and Metrolinx were apparently in discussion about Option 1 and the City was prepared to do this when, suddenly, the Province moved to Option 2. No doubt there is some Tory-friendly developer in the wings, rather like the Wheel Foundry site!
 
If it's any consolation, perhaps between now and the end of the Ontario Line construction period, we have a new provincial leader (probably many would say finally have a leader period) who seeks reconciliation between the city and province post-Ford era. My hope is that this just delays the city plans, and any contract between province and developer is annulled. It's just such a slimy shady and sneaky move.
 
allengeorge said:
I know the First Parliament site has been treated poorly, but it’s shocking to me that it can _still_ be treated so callously. Don’t we respect our history?
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Canadians respect heritage the way we respect the environment. It is increasingly difficult to buy a small car as little hatchbacks are replaced by large SUVs. People like Doug Ford are elected again and again partly because we don't practically value heritage, and allow politicians to be owned by developers.
 
...and/or have the most ridiculous soundbites. As long as it "feels" right. /sigh
 
CapitalSeven said:
Canadians respect heritage the way we respect the environment. It is increasingly difficult to buy a small car as little hatchbacks are replaced by large SUVs. People like Doug Ford are elected again and again partly because we don't practically value heritage, and allow politicians to be owned by developers.
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To be fair, Doug Ford wasn't elected by a majority of voters, nor a a majority of those who voted.

There is a systemic problem there that goes beyond the values or knowledge of most members of the electorate.
 
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thinking about the land swap. City gave over the library at Front/Parliament for the First Parliament site (and car wash?). One data centre was built, one is on the way.

But there used to be a green P on the north-east corner of Mill/Parliament. Last time I inquired, that patch - which was to be green space- was being leased to a car dealership (as was the First Parliament site) in order to raise funds FOR the First Parliament project.

So- can we convert that to a parkette now?
 

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dusk said:
Fantastic news! I genuinely lost hope. Let's now hope that the site is developed in a manner befitting the neighbourhood residents and ultimately all Torontonians.
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The Master Planning group was working well and had held extensive consultations, they were ready to unveil the proposed plan for comments just as the Metrolinx expropriation hit us with a bang. It is a very complex site as it has two owners (City and Ontario Heritage Trust, who own the ex-interpretive centre), has many layers of 'activity., and is VERY polluted.
 
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