By Ray Rivers
June 23rdm 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
“We were worried this stunt would be pulled by Premier Ford and the Ontario government… This is a manufactured crisis and we feel it’s an abuse of power,” (Jason Ash – Save Ontario’s Science Centre)
This Science Center fiasco is clearly weighing on Mr. Ford’s conscience. And like the bully he is, he has gone to great lengths to try to silence criticism…..
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- At the first sign of resistance to moving the Science Centre some consultants prepared a clearly biased and grossly inaccurate cost benefit study supporting the relocation;
- When it was clear that everyone, including the provincial auditor general, could see though that ruse, one of his ministries manufactured another report which suggested replacing a roof tile before a heavy winter snow fall;
- Claiming public safety as a pretext, the Science Centre was immediately shuttered, even though that had not been recommended in the report;
- Finally, the building is being dismantled to destroy the evidence.
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The new science centre is not scheduled to open until at least 2028 so the Province is contemplating offering the science experience somewhere else. All in all, this is an example of how our government wastes our money just to cater to the whims of a clearly dog-minded premier who has got himself tangled up in something.
The science centre had been an important part of our children’s education and a great attraction for visitors. It’ll be a different experience when it re-opens in its much more limited capacity at least four years from now.
“I read the report; it says nothing about closing the Science Centre,” (Elsa Lam, editor of Canadian Architect Magazine).
Ray Rivers, a Gazette Contributing Editor, writes regularly applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Ray has a post graduate degree in economics that he earned at the University of Ottawa. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background:
Outrage –
Joe Gaetan should research what an architect does before posting nonsense.
I don’t often agree with Ray however I do on this.
Rob Ford = “drunken stupor”
Doug Ford = just plain stupor
Post Script/Tangled Web OR Ford Hater Babble.
Do we want an Aesthetically Pleasant or a Safe Science Centre?
Lets start with differentiating between Architects and Engineers.
Architects are primarily concerned with the aesthetic and functional aspects of a building’s design. They focus on creating visually appealing and practical spaces while considering safety, accessibility, and sustainability.
Engineers, on the other hand, are primarily concerned with the technical aspects of a project’s design and construction. They apply scientific and mathematical principles to ensure the buildings and infrastructure’s structural integrity and functionality. Engineers can specialize in various fields, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, or structural engineering.
The people of Elloitt Lake found out which is best the hard way : https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/elliot-lake-inquiry-will-focus-on-finding-reason-for-mall-collapse-not-handing-out-blame-commissioner
It is a disgraceful situation. To allow a government asset to slide into such a state of disrepair is not only negligent it is fiscally irresponsible. It’s just another in a litany of poorly considered, erratic and misguided initiatives from the Ford government. He is an embarrassment to the PC Party.
For disgruntled voters though, where is the alternative? I like and admire Marit Stiles, but the NDP caucus is frightening, and the Party is filled with anti-Semites. The Liberals have a couple of solid MPPs, but Bonnie Crombie looks and sounds weak. She is as much a patsy for developers as Ford. Mike Schreiner is incredibly talented, but the Greens aren’t forming a government anytime soon, let alone an Official Opposition. I keep hoping the New Blue Party might morph into respectable option, but they are still banging away about mask mandates.
The best scenario would be the PCs reduced to a minority status, and the Liberals and NDP get their act together and come up with a coalition. Then maybe the Tories will get themselves a respectable leader like Vic Fedeli or Todd Smith instead of an aging frat boy who is fixated on selling beer and wine in variety stores.
Shameful. No longer do we hear of thousands of dollars. Its millions and billions! Numbers that are out of range for the everyday person to even put in perspective. We are desentized to the garbage that comes out of Queens Park because it’s so ridiculous.
Members of the Ontario Association of Architects did an extensive look at the Ontario Science Center and did not find any issues with the structure of this building. These Architects and their Association have been fighting the Ford Government to leave this building alone!! The only thing they found was a repairable issue with one of the small outdoor bridges and not a big deal to repair.
What are Doug Ford and his cohorts hiding from the Tax payers of Ontario?? $27 Billion dollars and counting to build a new Spa and underground parking lot for a select few and a government that is running a huge deficit! Is very suspect.
How did Ford manage to hoodwink voters in the 2 recent bi-elections?…we have to make sure this guy is out of office the sooner the better…his priorities re healthcare and education are missing in action.