Ontario Premier Doug Ford has expressed concerns about the agreement between the province and a European spa company called Therme, following allegations that the company overstated its success to secure a deal in Toronto. The New York Times published an investigation claiming that Therme misrepresented itself as a larger, more established company when it entered into a deal with the Ford government to build a spa at Ontario Place. The agreement has already faced scrutiny due to the lengthy lease given to Therme and questions about the bidding process and financial commitments made by the government.
Ford has indicated that he has asked the Minister of Infrastructure and her officials to review the allegations made in the Times’ report. He stated that he wants them to ensure that all the necessary steps were taken in the agreement and that the company’s credentials were accurately represented. Despite the controversy, Ford emphasized his excitement about the spa project and stated his desire to see a beautiful facility developed at Ontario Place. However, questions remain about the due diligence conducted by Infrastructure Ontario in assessing Therme’s application and the accuracy of the information provided by the company in its submissions.
The auditor general previously found that Infrastructure Ontario did not properly assess Therme’s application and verify the ownership of spas mentioned in the company’s submissions. Therme claimed to have six facilities under operation, but the auditor general found discrepancies in the ownership and operation of these spas. Nevertheless, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma defended the decision to approve Therme, stating that the company passed a financial test conducted by Infrastructure Ontario, an arm’s length agency. However, the opposition has called for the cancellation of the deal, citing concerns over the accuracy of the company’s representations and the bidding process.
A spokesperson for Therme has disputed the allegations in the New York Times report, stating that the company followed all the rules of the bidding process. Despite the ongoing controversy and calls for the deal to be terminated, Ford has not committed to cancelling the agreement. He has stated that he will have his deputies review the details of the agreement and ensure that everything meets the necessary standards. The premier emphasized that he wants to ensure that the agreement is transparent and that all parties involved have acted in good faith.
In response to criticism from opposition members, Ford has reiterated his commitment to investigating the allegations and ensuring that the agreement with Therme is in the best interest of the province. He has expressed his intention to dig deep into the matter, review the detailed agreement, and make a decision based on the information provided by his officials. Despite the controversy surrounding the Therme deal, Ford maintains his optimism about the project and his desire to see a successful development at Ontario Place. The government will continue to assess the situation and make decisions based on the findings of its review.
