By james art TORONTO — A major amusement park is part of Ontario’s grand vision to turn the Niagara region into the Las Vegas of the north, but Marineland may not fit the bill, the province’s tourism minister says.
Stan Cho says his ministry hasn’t talked about the sprawling attraction, which is currently up for sale and sits on 1,000 acres a short distance from Horseshoe Falls.
“I will admit that the place is well located at its core,” Cho said of the park’s location, speaking to reporters recently at Queen’s Park.
“There is no doubt about it, but this is private land and we are not currently discussing any private matters related to the sale of the land. But we know there are other options.”
The province would like to see an amusement park somewhere in the region to act as an attraction as part of its “Niagara strategy,” Cho said.
“There’s a lot of land out there that’s available for things like theme parks, increased shopping and all that, five-star dining,” he said.
“Our goal is not to choose exactly where and who, our goal is to create the conditions and provide the necessary kind of background with the foundation for those who want to invest capital to do so, because there will be a return.”
A new theme park could be anywhere and need not use Marineland’s existing infrastructure, he suggested.
The park said last year it was up for sale, but has yet to announce a deal. Owner Marie Holler died last month, setting in motion a succession plan that has not been shared publicly.
Last summer, Marineland opened for just two months at significantly reduced prices as it was said to be “transitioning” to new owners. Much of the park, including the rides and many of the animals, was off limits to visitors.
The park has been the site of a series of marine mammal deaths in recent years as the Attorney General’s Office conducts an investigation that has been ongoing for four years. Marineland said the deaths are part of the cycle of life and defended its treatment of the animals.
“My main concern there is animal welfare, just like the public,” Cho said.
“We hope they do the right thing and that they listen to the public and care about animal welfare.”
Marineland did not respond to a request for comment on Cho’s remarks and the government’s plan for the region.
Doug Ford’s government is seeking to turn Niagara into the “Las Vegas of the North,” Cho said at a recent committee meeting in Queens Park.
Last week, he further explained the government’s extensive strategy for the area.
“I look at Niagara Falls like the hub of a wheel, but the spoke goes out in 30 minutes in each direction to some of the most amazing places you’ll ever see,” he said.
The plans are grand, he explained, and include a push for an international airport, more hotels, expanding mass transit in the region and more trains running to the GO Transit area from Toronto.
“There is so much to offer in the region that we haven’t tapped into, and what’s missing is a cohesive vision to bring it together,” Cho said.
“That’s why people go to places like Las Vegas for four days or five nights, Niagara Falls for four hours or five hours or one night.”
The province also hopes to expand gaming and casino operations in the city.
The Trillium news outlet first reported Ford’s plan for casinos in the area.
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment, which operates both Niagara Falls casinos, signed a deal with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming in 2018 to operate all of the city’s casinos until 2040, the store said.
Ford wants to change that deal, calling it a “monopoly” for Mohegan. He said there was a “tremendous opportunity” with 11 million tourists coming to the region.
“We just want to modernize it and clean it up, get more opportunities, more economic development, increase tourism,” Ford said in early October.
“There’s a whole market south of the border and we’d love them to come and spend a weekend, a week.”
Cho said the vision is in its early days, but he is determined to transform the area. He wants more people to experience Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries and more Great Lakes cruise ships to dock in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
“It’s going to put the Niagara region on the map in ways it’s never been done before, and we’re extremely excited about it,” he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 28, 2024.
Liam Casey, The Canadian Press