The Canadian Press
TORONTO–An Ontario government grant of about $120,000 that is going towards a giant rubber duck for “Canada 150” celebrations is ruffling some feathers.
The six-storey-tall, 13,600-kg yellow duck is being brought to Toronto by the Redpath Waterfront Festival, at a total cost of $200,000, combining other funding such as corporate sponsorship.
It’s being billed as a tourist attraction–with particular Instagram and selfie appeal–and also will be taken to other communities in Ontario.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives say they’re unclear on the giant duck’s connection to Canada’s heritage celebrations.
“It’s an absurd waste of taxpayers’ dollars,” Rick Nicholls said in question period.
“It is an absolute cluster duck.”
Tourism, Culture and Sport minister Eleanor McMahon said the province has been funding the waterfront festival for the past three years and it does a good job promoting tourism.
“This year they’ve decided to add a duck to the equation,” she noted.
“I think it’s an important contribution to our 150th celebrations,” McMahon added.
“It’s just another example of the fun that people are going to have this summer.”
Lea Parrell, co-producer of the waterfront festival, said it’s hoped the duck will have a positive effect on tourism.
The $200,000 cost includes renting the duck from a man in the United States who owns it, transporting it, inflating it, using a crane to lift it onto a barge, towing the barge, bringing it to other Ontario communities, and marketing.
There’s also on-site support such as portable toilets and extra fencing so people don’t fall in the water, Parrell noted.
The giant rubber duck is based on similar floating structures by a Dutch artist that have travelled world, she added.
