en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Ontario provincial government has signed a $200 million contract with Canadian construction company Pomerleau Inc. to build a new five-story parking garage at Ontario Place. The government stated that the parking facility could generate up to $60 million in annual revenue.

Tourism Minister Stan Cho announced that the parking garage will provide up to 3,500 parking spaces, 680 electric vehicle charging stations, up to 100 bicycle parking spots, and a bus drop-off area. The government expects the facility to generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue each year once completed.

Premier Doug Ford previously stated that the structure would blend into the surrounding environment through landscaped slopes, but the released renderings have drawn criticism from opponents. The parking issue has become a focal point in the controversy surrounding the Ford government's redevelopment of the Ontario Place waterfront. The Auditor General found that under the provincial government's agreement with European company Therme to build a spa and water park on the site, the government is obligated to provide parking spaces. The government once proposed placing the parking garage beneath the relocated Science Centre to alleviate public concerns.