LATEST STORIES:

Queen’s Park considers closure for renovations costing over $1B

Share this story...

Officials say Queen’s Park is in desperate need of repairs but, at 130 years old, upgrades are likely to cost over $1 billion.

Members and officials of Ontario’s legislature building eye a full decommission of the building for large-scale renovations.

Issues include lead pipes and asbestos in the walls, numerous old cables and wires stacked on top of new ones, as well as an inefficient steam heating system with parts that frequently fail.

READ MORE: Ontario legislature resumes after break

The building hasn’t undergone a renovation since it first opened in 1893.

The committee looking to make upgrades to the building is set to hear from several House of Commons officials today, including the deputy clerk of administration, chief information officer and director of real property services.

The building needs better fire safety systems, as well as electrical, IT, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems.

READ MORE: Demonstrations held outside Queen’s Park in support of Ontario education workers

Legislative Affairs Minister Paul Calandra says a report is underway to determine exactly what work is needed, but it is clear it will not come cheap.

The legislature has been getting by with repairs so far, but a report from more than 10 years ago concluded that a “full replacement of all major systems” is needed.

Calandra says upgrades certainly won’t cost less than a billion dollars, and the provincial legislature would need to find a new home for eight years.

Calandra is part of the team looking for a new location for the assembly. He says he hopes that when the next provincial parliament convenes after the 2026 election, it will be in a different spot.