Kristyn Wong-Tam, City Councillor, Ward 27 Toronto Centre Rosedale
“I am delighted to bring the possibilities of Expo 2025 to Toronto. As a project of monumental value Expo will help create jobs and increase Toronto’s profile internationally as a world-class city and tourist attraction. Expo ’67 was a catalyst for Montréal’s growth with a number of large-scale infrastructure projects. Expo 2025 could propel Toronto even further.”
Ken Tanenbaum, Vice Chairman, The Kilmer Group
“By hosting a World Expo, we have a unique opportunity to amplify the investment we will be making in flood proofing the Don River and bringing the Toronto Portlands to life. Expo will celebrate the promise of Canada, will accelerate the development of long promised infrastrucutre and will have an enormous positive economic impact as we welcome 40 million people over 6 months to our region.”
Claire Hopkinson, Director and CEO, Toronto Arts Council
“Toronto has the creative talent and the technical expertise to pull off the World’s best Expo. We embrace innovation and curiosity. We believe in social inclusion and empowerment. Expo 2025 Canada presents a unique opportunity to tell our story to the world. In addition to the tangible impact on Toronto’s development – that of jobs, flood protection, improved transit, commercial and cultural exchange – Expo 2025 will deliver a heightened feeling of belonging and possibility for the millions of youth who will participate. By stepping up to be thought leader on the world stage, Toronto can imagine, host and prototype a better city, a better country and a better world.”
Mike Yorke, President (Local 27), The Carpenters Union
“Expo is city building at its best: much needed transit would serve future jobs, growth, and tax-paying development. Both the site, and our environment. It means education, training, and work opportunities for a new generation of young carpenters – the very men and women who are building Toronto. It’s a win-win for Toronto, the GTA and for Ontario.”
JP Gladu, CEO, The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
“The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) fully supports the vision and commitment of the EXPO 2025 bid. We see this as an opportunity to proudly celebrate Canada’s First Peoples through not only a cultural and traditional perspective but also through the entrepreneurial spirit and growth of Aboriginal business in 21st Century Canada.”
Julie Dabrusin, Member of Parliament, Toronto-Danforth
“The Portlands are an important part of the future of Toronto’s waterfront. The energy and ideas brought forward by projects such as the proposal for Expo 2025 provides Toronto with exciting opportunities to imagine a regenerated Portlands.”
Senator Art Eggleton (Former Mayor of Toronto)
“The City Council of Toronto approved the first step in looking at the possibility of Toronto hosting a major world Expo in 2025, granting us the opportunity to show off one of the most populous, multicultural, and beautiful metropolises in our nation … this a no-lose situation.”
Jan de Silva, President & CEO, Toronto Board of Trade
“Previous Canadian expositions, held in Montreal and Vancouver, prove the enormous economic and urban development potential of such events. We support the City of Toronto’s due diligence and assessment process.”
Janet Grant, Director, Events @ MaRS Discovery District
“Hosting Expo 2025 will raise the profile of the City of Toronto and Canada as a global leader in technology and innovation. It will be a dynamic job catalyst, creating wealth and opportunities for our next generation of leaders. Canada is ready to be an innovation leader on the world stage.”
Terrie O’Leary, Acting CEO, Invest Toronto
“City Council in Toronto recently approved the first step in looking at the possibility of Toronto hosting a major world Expo in 2025 … Almost 10 years after Canada has returned to the fiscally sound and non-deficit budgetary situation that we all support. Toronto is doing the proper due diligence.”
Sheldon Levy, Former President, Ryerson University
“Toronto would stand to benefit tremendously … It would help to defray the cost of major projects planned for the City. In addition, hosting Expo 2025 would attract additional international investment, trade, jobs, and increased tourism.”
Johanne Belanger, President & CEO, Tourism Toronto
“The Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Toronto and in fact in all of Canada stand to benefit greatly from hosting major international expos of this nature … Last year Canada’s lodging industry alone generated over $7 Billion in tax revenues for all three levels of government ($3.2 Billion of which was at the Federal Level) … in fact in Ontario alone, the visitor economy supports over 331,000 jobs.”
Kathleen Wynne, Premier, Province of Ontario
“Expo 2025 is a project of major importance to the future economic vitality of Greater Toronto, and has significant economic potential for the city and province. I fully support formally asking the Federal Government not to withdraw Canada’s membership in the Bureau International des Expositions, and I support allowing the City of Toronto to do its proper due diligence … I look forward to a meeting and tour of the possible Expo site in the Toronto Port Lands.”
Charles Sousa, Finance Minister, Province of Ontario
“I am supportive of requesting the federal government to refrain from withdrawing Canada’s membership in the Bureau International des Expositions while the City of Toronto conducts its due diligence. The Province would, of course, be a partner where and when appropriate throughout this information gathering and fact finding process.”
Michael Chan, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, Province of Ontario
“The benefits for all Canadians with Toronto as host of Expo 2025 would include significant job creation, new value-added GDP growth, increases in tourism and a global marketing effort showcasing Canada.”
Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation
“Expo 2025 would be an economic generator that would attract investment to the GTA, clean up the Port Lands, build infrastructure, boost tourism, create jobs, and show the very best of our region, province and country …Expo could build a dynamic legacy for Toronto for decades to come: transit, environmental cleanup, affordable housing, and social and community improvements.”
Monte McNaughton, MPP, P.C. MPP (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex) Critic for Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade
“I believe that the government needs to help create an environment that will foster economic growth. This project is an exciting opportunity for Ontario … I want to help you on this!”
Terry Mundell, President & CEO, Greater Toronto Hotel Association
“City wide meetings and conventions in Toronto (such as an Expo) have a large economic impact on businesses in the area ranging from hotel rooms, restaurants and attractions. We are supportive … The Ontario tourism and hospitality industry is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy.”
George Hanus, Former President & CEO, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance
“The Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance actively promotes the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) internationally … An Expo in Canada would greatly enhance GTA regional economic development.”
John W. Campbell, Former President & CEO, Waterfront Toronto
“The current exercise by the City of Toronto is a worthy one to undertake and conclude … Further examination has the potential to yield a different business model which could help to minimize public investment through innovative partnerships with the private sector while still achieving city building and legacy objectives.”
Michael Kraljevic, President & CEO, Toronto Port Lands Company
“Toronto Port Lands Company (TPLC) has been a strong supporter of the catalytic impact of a world Expo towards achieving significant city-building opportunities. Successful Expos have demonstrated that it will accelerate investments in underutilized lands, infrastructure, transit and cultural facilities … A careful review of all issues for a new bid is certainly prudent.”
Glen Clark, Former Premier, British Columbia, Currently President and CEO,
The Jim Pattison Group, Vancouver
“I certainly support your efforts to land an Expo for Toronto. These spectacular events have a way of galvanizing a community and spur significant infrastructure investment that pays dividends for years to come. And, because of the length of an Expo, those exhibitions have a much larger long-term impact than an Olympics, or a Pan-Am Games.”