Former city councillor and ex-MP Adam Vaughan, who has often criticized Doug Ford’s plans for Toronto’s waterfront, is now on board with Therme Canada, the company behind a luxury spa project at Ontario Place.
In an interview with , Vaughan shared that he has joined Therme as a senior adviser. This Austrian company was given a 95-year lease to create a destination spa and indoor water park on the west island of Ontario Place, which is owned by the province along the city’s lakeshore.
Vaughan describes his role with Therme as “speaking to the public about what an incredible project this is” and expressed admiration for Ontario’s premier regarding the overall vision.
“I’d be the first person to criticize Doug Ford if I thought he was doing a bad thing in Toronto,” Vaughan told .
“This is a good project and I’m totally wholeheartedly in support of it. When new facts, new ideas, and more importantly, great ideas appear on the waterfront, I’ll be the first to champion them every single time.”
As recently as 2019, when he was still serving as Liberal MP for Trinity-Spadina, Vaughan publicly condemned Ford’s proposals for Ontario Place in the House of Commons. He claimed that the provincial government had effectively “put a for sale sign on the site.”
Vaughan also remarked that Ford’s Progressive Conservatives were “talking about a mall or worse – a casino on the waterfront.”
“What a waste. What a terrible deficit of imagination. The people of Ontario, the folks of our city, the Toronto Liberal caucus want to keep Ontario Place a public place.”
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Demolition of the west island of Ontario Place is pictured in December 2024. This is where the Therme Canada spa and indoor water park is to be built. (Patrick Morrell/CBC)
When showed him that statement during his interview, he replied: “They abandoned the idea of a casino. They’re not building a mall. What they’re building is a park.”
“It’s a blend of paid attractions, ours being one of them, but it’s also an amazing set of new green spaces with restored habitat and beaches that you don’t need hiking boots to get to,” he said.
Last December, Ontario’s auditor general criticized how the provincial government managed redevelopment at Ontario Place; this project has swelled to cost taxpayers $2.2 billion. The auditor described how tenant selection lacked transparency and fairness.
The auditor’s report pointed out that Therme Group-the international parent company-didn’t actually own or operate five out of six spas mentioned in its proposal submission to Infrastructure Ontario.
This issue gained renewed attention in April after a New York Times article raised questions about whether Therme overstated its credentials during its pitch for approval-including concerns over whether they had met minimum equity requirements set by the province.
Critics react to allegations that Therme misrepresented itself to get Ontario Place dealOntario’s government plan to build a luxury spa on what used to be part of Ontario Place faces scrutiny once more following claims that Therme misrepresented details in order secure their long-term deal. CBC’s Shawn Jeffords has more.
“The reason our bid won was because we met all necessary criteria,” said Vaughan.
“We have three major investors involved in our consortium,” he explained further. “That’s part of our financial structure , which was presented directly to government officials.”
‘We’re listening and so is the province’
The auditor also pointed out shortcomings from provincial officials regarding public consultations prior selecting anchor tenants.
However , during his conversation with , Vaughansaid there have been “a tonneofpublicconsultations.”
“We’re listeningandtheprovinceislistening.”
He addedthattheseconsultations calledforaccessibleroutes tothewaterfront, publcbeachesfor swimmingandcleaningup contaminatedsoilonthesite.
“All those good thingsarehappeningforthepublic, andthey’regoingtobefree,” Vaughansaid.
.. Thermestarted investing$500milliontowardbuildingitsfacilityalongwithanother$200millionin6 hectaresofpublicspacearounditaccordingtoabusinesscasereleasedbytheprovince.)
Critics react to allegations that Therme misrepresented itself to get Ontario Place dealOntario’s government plan to build a luxury spa on what used to be part of Ontario Place faces scrutiny once more following claims that Therme misrepresented details in order secure their long-term deal. CBC’s Shawn Jeffords has more.
“The reason our bid won was because we met all necessary criteria,” said Vaughan.
“We have three major investors involved in our consortium,” he explained further. “That’s part of our financial structure , which was presented directly to government officials.”
