Toronto Mayor David Miller unveiled the city's first automated public toilet on Wednesday, at a highly-anticipated grand opening which occurred on a prime piece of real estate near Lake Ontario.
Equipped with heating and air conditioning, the toilet carries a price tag of about $400,000 and is only steps from some of the city's top tourist attractions like the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre.
"The installation of this automated public toilet is a positive development for both residents and visitors to the city," said Miller in a media release.
"It will improve the basic level of service offered by the city, provide comfort and convenience, and promote better public hygiene."
Big European cities like Paris have had outdoor toilets for years, but many Canadian cities, including Toronto, have been slower on the upswing.
A large media presence was at the toilet site long before the official opening at 12:30 p.m., and a security guard kept watch to ensure that no one got inside before the toilet's debut.
The city partnered with Astral Media for the project, which will get advertising rights in exchange for covering some costs.
As part of a 20-year program, the city hopes to put 20 outdoor toilets at spots around the city.
CTV Toronto's Alicia Markson said that the modern-day outhouse is a technological marvel that costs 25 cents per flush.
"It's the most luxurious public lavatory I've ever seen," said Markson, adding that the toilet is completely self-cleaning.
There is a 20-minute time limit, which is communicated through a three-step warning process.
As soon as the patron steps out of the lavatory, motion detectors kick-start the cleaning process. Despite the hands-off cleaning, maintenance staff will still make three daily visits to ensure everything is running smoothly.
Outreach workers plan to distribute tokens to homeless people, who will also be granted access to the toilets.
