Science Centre leaders defend closure

New report echoes engineers’ findings on need for repairs

- KRISTIN RUSHOWY AND ROBERT BENZIE

Shuttering the beloved Ontario Science Centre has been “emotional” — but leaders believe closing the museum was the best option because it is no longer safe due to “failing infrastructure, including critical roof issues, building systems and an inaccessible pedestrian bridge.”

The centre’s top brass delivered that verdict Thursday as the province released a second engineering report on the state of the facility, echoing concerns from an initial review that detailed the building’s crumbling roof, among other urgently needed repairs.

But critics were quick to point out that the second report, while confirming serious issues in some areas, also did not call for the immediate shutdown that happened three weeks ago.

“It is unfortunate that we are in this circumstance — it is terrible,” Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma said of the closure and “decommissioning” of the three Science Centre buildings. “None of us wanted to make a decision like this.”

Given the risks cited in the reports, the estimated $500-million cost and length of time to make repairs — when the centre is already moving to Ontario Place in 2028 — it was the only choice for Premier Doug Ford’s government, she said.

However, Jason Ash, co-chair of Save Ontario’s Science Centre, took issue with that, as neither report saw the need to “require or recommend the immediate and permanent closure” of the facility.

“Independent experts continue to publicly state the building is safe to reopen, and that the repairs it needs are normal and expected for a 55-year-old building,” said Ash, maintaining the Science Centre requested funding for a number of critical projects in recent years and had been denied.