Ontario Premier Doug Ford Proposes Reclaiming Lake Ontario for Massive New Convention Centre

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on March 7, 2026, that his government is exploring the option of filling in Lake Ontario to construct a new, world-class convention centre, a project estimated to cost a few billion dollars and measure approximately two million square feet.

The proposal, which involves expanding land at the city's waterfront, has already received preliminary endorsement from Mayor Olivia Chow, who stated she is prepared to collaborate with the province if the plan moves forward to attract more business and visitors.

The Proposal to Reclaim Waterfront Land

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters in Mississauga on Friday that his government is actively looking at options for a massive new Toronto convention centre that could include reclaimed land along the shore of Lake Ontario. Ford described the project as a necessary step to address what he termed a "tremendous amount of fill" currently available on the city's waterfront that needs to be expanded upon.

"I wouldn't call it an island, but we may look at putting fill in until we can put (in) a convention centre," Ford stated during a press conference. He emphasized that the goal is to create a facility that is "unlike any other location in the entire world," arguing that the current Metro Toronto Convention Centre is insufficient for the region's growing needs.

According to reports, the proposed new convention centre would be approximately two million square feet in size. This figure represents nearly three times the size of the current Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ford described the existing facility as having an unacceptable layout, noting that visitors are forced to go "up, you're going down, you're going up, you're going across the road."

The location for this expansion is likely to be city-owned Exhibition Place, which currently holds 192 acres of underutilized land. However, Ford confirmed that the government is considering multiple sites across Toronto's waterfront, potentially including areas between Humber Bay Park and Ontario Place.

"We're looking at options right now, but we need a convention centre," Ford said. He further clarified that the plan involves using existing fill to expand the land base rather than creating a detached artificial island. "We have a tremendous amount of fill right now, and we need to expand the land," he explained.

Consultation and Municipal Cooperation

A key component of the proposal is the consultation process between the provincial government and the City of Toronto. Premier Ford confirmed that he has spoken directly with Mayor Olivia Chow regarding the idea of reclaiming lakeshore land.

"I did talk to the mayor about it and she was endorsing it. Because we need more land," Ford said. He acknowledged that the project faces significant environmental hurdles, stating that "that's what would happen first."

Braman Thillainathan, a spokesperson for Mayor Olivia Chow, confirmed the mayor's stance on the matter. "The mayor has said she is prepared to work with the province if they plan to invest in upgrading the convention centre to attract more visitors and more business," Thillainathan stated.

Ford argued that the current convention centre is causing the city to lose a "massive amount of business." He expressed frustration with the current facility, saying, "We're losing a massive amount of business. So we'll build something, just something out of this world."

Financial Estimates and Environmental Process

The economic implications of the project are significant. Ford has indicated that the new convention centre could cost a few billion dollars. He described the new facility as a "world class convention centre" designed to attract more tourists and generate jobs.

"The proposal would proceed through the same environmental processes as other projects," Ford confirmed, aligning the plan with standard regulatory procedures. He noted that environmental work had not yet begun for the plan, having only begun musing about the idea last week.

"The environmental process would move forward," Ford added, dismissing concerns that the project would bypass standard protocols. He emphasized that the government is simply utilizing existing resources to meet the demand for larger convention space.

"We're exploring that," Ford said when asked about the feasibility of the plan.

Current Status and Future Steps

As of March 7, 2026, the proposal remains in the conceptual and planning stages. Premier Ford stated that the government is "looking at options right now" to determine the best path forward. While the Mayor's office has indicated willingness to cooperate, the actual construction of the new convention centre has not commenced.

The next steps for the project involve the formal initiation of the environmental assessment process, which Ford noted would be the first major hurdle before any land reclamation could take place. The government will continue to evaluate the various options, weighing the benefits of a larger, more efficient convention centre against the environmental and logistical challenges of filling in Lake Ontario.

The proposal represents a significant shift in how the city and province view their waterfront assets, moving from underutilized land to a potential economic driver for the region. However, the timeline for realization remains uncertain, contingent on the completion of environmental reviews and the finalization of design and funding details.