Save Union Station

Union Station, built between 1914 and 1927, is as grand a railway terminal as any city could hope for. Owned by the citizens of Toronto since 2000, Union Station is one of our best and most treasured public heritage buildings. It's also a major transportation hub for the city and the GTA.

But…

Toronto City Council has signed a 100 year lease of Union Station to the Union Pearson Group.

In spite of many requests, the important details about Union Pearson's bid - such as the financial implications to the city - have not been made public, although it is known that the rent to be paid is about $500,000 a year.

A public inquiry into the bidding process has shown that Union Pearson's bid emerged as the `preferred bid' only after major irregularities in the way the bid happened including a second vote, and in fact on the first vote held by the Selection Committee Union Pearson's bid was rejected.

City Council retained consultants in 2004 to advise on the draft Master Plan which city staff proposed, but their report fails to ensure that the guts of the Station - the tracks, the platforms, and the roof - are redeveloped to contemporary standards of comfort or design as has occurred in many American and European cities.

The substantive decisions appear to have been made.

The Save Union Station Committee struggled for more than two years to ask questions and to open up the process. We achieved some good results along the way, but in the end the public interest was not protected by city staff or city council.

A full history of the process and the decisions made can be found in the Electronic Bulletins we produced over the years. They are found on this web site. We invite you to read them. The saga of Union Station does not show Toronto City Council at its best - in fact it shows a council in disarray.

In December 2004, the Save Union Station Committee decided that since the major decisions about redeveloping the Station have been taken, its activities would come to an end, to be revived only if something unforeseen occurs - and with Union Station, that seems to happen all too frequently - at which point we would again spring into action.

Thank you for your interest.