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Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s tourism vision for Niagara Falls is facing renewed scrutiny. After public pressure forced the government to abandon plans for a second ferris wheel in Queen Victoria Park, opponents are now turning their attention to another proposed attraction: an automated electric tram system running through the same park.
Ferris Wheel Cancelled After Public Backlash
Earlier in 2025, Ford announced the Destination Niagara strategy — internally referred to as the “Vegas of the North” plan. The strategy included a new observation wheel and an electric tram, both intended to offer tourists fresh views of the falls. The government proposed placing both attractions inside Queen Victoria Park, widely regarded as the heart of Niagara Falls.
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The ferris wheel proposal drew immediate criticism from local residents, community groups and elected officials. Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates was blunt in his opposition. “It was not only unnecessary; it was stupid,” Gates said, adding that it made “no sense to have two ferris wheels basically a block apart.”
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati shared that view. Although he stood alongside Ford and cabinet ministers at the original announcement, Diodati later told Global News he had never supported the idea. “At first blush, when I heard it, I thought we already have a ferris wheel,” he said.
Gates launched a petition and held town hall meetings to rally opposition. He gathered support from approximately 11,000 people. One town hall alone drew 1,200 attendees. “People were really concerned, really upset with the second ferris wheel,” Gates said. “They don’t want to destroy Queen Victoria Park.”
Meanwhile, Diodati took a different approach. He contacted Harry Oakes of HOCO Entertainment, the company that owns the existing Niagara SkyWheel, and proposed building a larger ferris wheel on the Clifton Hill site instead. Oakes agreed, on the condition that the province would not build a competing wheel nearby. Diodati said Oakes then met with provincial tourism officials and presented his proposal. “The province loved it, and they decided they’re not moving forward with any other ferris wheel in Niagara Falls,” Diodati said.
Attention Shifts to the Electric Tram Proposal
With the ferris wheel cancelled, Gates is now focusing on the second element of the Destination Niagara plan. The government described the proposed attraction as an all-season, automated electric tram stretching 3.8 kilometres through Queen Victoria Park. According to the province, its suspended capsules would give visitors elevated views of the falls while connecting them to major attractions across the park.
Gates described it more simply. “It’s an amusement ride that’s going to go through the falls to give you a better, higher look,” he said. He added that he wants more information before taking a firm position. However, he believes public opposition could be just as strong as it was for the ferris wheel. “I firmly believe that the 11,000 people that signed the petition for the ferris wheel — there will be just as many upset once they get the information on the tram,” Gates said.
Diodati pushed back on the characterization of the project as a tram. He described it instead as an electric pulley system designed to move visitors through the park without requiring them to drive. “A way to get people right through the park without having to drive their vehicles,” he told Global News. He added that the concept aligns with the park’s environmental mandate and fits in as a green initiative.
Public Consultation Still Ahead
Diodati confirmed that public meetings are planned to allow residents to review the concept and provide feedback. He did not offer details on the number of stops or what supporting infrastructure might be required inside Queen Victoria Park. However, he stressed that planners are approaching the project with sensitivity toward preserving the greenspace.
Asked whether the tram could face the same fate as the ferris wheel, Diodati did not rule it out. “It may,” he said. “That’s why we have public meetings, right? We don’t want to presuppose what the public will say.”
The Ford government did not respond to questions about whether it remains committed to the tram proposal. As a result, the future of the electric tram — and the broader Destination Niagara strategy — remains uncertain heading into the public consultation phase.
