Duncan Fremlin –
I was introduced to modern-day politics in 1995 when Ontario Premier Mike Harris and his Conservative government began to dismantle the educational system they had inherited.
His then-education minister, John Snobelen, was famously caught on tape saying he would “invent a crisis” to give him a reason to avoid public consultation on massive change. Similar tactics followed Harris’s term in office as he slashed social and environmental programs that had been in place for decades.
Today, Ontario residents are witnessing a similar authoritarian approach when it comes to deciding the future of public facilities like the Ontario Science Centre, Ontario Place and Billy Bishop Airport.
Sadly, such tactics aren’t limited to big governments. Indeed, they occur at Toronto City Hall, sometimes leaving residents to fight on their own for what they feel are injustices brought on by politicians.
A classic case involves Ward 13 (Toronto Centre), an area the bridge readers know well.
Two years ago, Councillor Chris Moise presented a motion to an executive committee meeting designed to transfer control of Moss Park Arena, one of the few hockey arenas in downtown Toronto, from a volunteer community-operated board of directors to a city management team.
A storm of protest from the existing board and rink users followed. Media outlet Toronto Today began to report that Moise had his own agenda for the rink.
For decades, the arena has been a rare city success story, offering free ice time and equipment to hundreds of kids. Was that in jeopardy?
Moise posted a video on his Instagram page suggesting that homeless people be allowed to use the rink’s showers and watch the games. There was no mention of who would pay for the retrofit, the extra staff, security and sanitation.
Everyone who uses the rink has been watching the ongoing construction of a new subway station a few metres from the arena. Toronto residents know well that where there is a subway station, condos are sure to follow.
We learned that a real estate development professional was teaming up with Moise to ask the board to permit use of the arena for a summer ball hockey tournament, a supposed fundraiser to raise money for the facility. The idea failed because the arena is an “ice hockey” facility 365 days a year.
You have to ask yourself what did a “real estate development professional” have to do with a city-owned facility in the first place?
In February 2025, Moise moved a member motion, a rarely used tool available if councillors have urgent new business. The business in question was a motion to replace most members of the community board with six new proposed volunteers, all approved by Moise.
The day Council was going to consider the motion, many of our group took time off work to go to City Hall and speak on behalf of the existing board and management team. But Moise then withdrew the motion.
In case the issue reappears after the October 26 municipal election, we wish to make our voice heard now.
Our fight over a small hockey arena in downtown Toronto sends a message to residents across the city that when politicians start to act unilaterally, it’s critical to speak up throughout the year as well as show up on election day.
In short, get involved. I, for one, will vote accordingly.
Duncan Fremlin is a resident of Ward 13 and member of Friends of Moss Park Arena
