The New Investment in the GTA’s Cultural Infrastructure

May 31, 2002

The Prime Minister announced today an investment of up to $113.5 million in the cultural infrastructure of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program.

With funds from the province of Ontario, this means that up to $232 million will be available to build and renew Toronto’s cultural infrastructure.

We are delighted that, through the efforts of the Honourable David Collenette and with the support of the Greater Toronto Area Caucus, we were able to reach an agreement so promptly with the new government of Ontario.

This is a great example of what governments can achieve by working together for the benefit of their citizens.

This investment will help ensure that the Greater Toronto Area remains a magnet for tourism and investment. It will sustain Toronto’s cultural institutions, contribute to an improved quality of life and support Toronto’s position as a modern, world-class city.

Here are the seven institutions targeted by the program and some of the projects they have planned :

• The Royal Ontario Museum, to build a new signature building, and add exhibition halls.
• The Canadian Opera Company, to build a 2,000-seat theatre that will house the Company and the National Ballet of Canada, and improve media capabilities.
• The Art Gallery of Ontario, to build a new gallery to house the Thompson collection, and renovate existing galleries.
• The National Ballet School, to develop a former CBC property, add a new training facility, renovate and refurbish some of its existing facilities.
• The Royal Conservatory of Music, to create a Performance and Learning Centre, build a 850-seat multi-purpose concert hall, and add four floors of program space.
• The George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, to increase exhibition space, and add a multi-purpose room with retractable seating for educational programming.
• Roy Thompson Hall, to make improvements to the auditorium’s acoustics, install the latest technologies in sound and lighting, re-configure seating, and build a new lounge.

This is one of a series of matching federal and provincial investments to improve the quality of life of Canadians through infrastructure investments totalling more than $715 million to date in Ontario, including a recent $76 million federal investment in the Toronto Transit Commission.

This investment in cultural infrastructure complements the $500 million investment we announced last year to encourage and foster cultural creation across Canada.