Why don't they just release them into the ocean?

Seems like extortion. The public display business has tanked (sorry), so now it's either send them to China, euthanize them, or ask the public purse to subsidize care of the animals (ie., the new business is 'take government money to do a "good thing"').

I do have concerns about 'send them to China', since I think that that would be another display zoo with no qualms about continuing exploitation.

I don't like option three, and the reports I've seen (Guardian but also CBC etc) suggest that rewilding is off the table. I'd be ok with "the people of Canada will take care of the whales, but your business is your problem". I'd be ok with proving this point even if someone claims that the existing business could do it cheaper. A separate sanctuary would make clear that 'we care about the animals, but not your business plan as it relates to the public purse', to establish a policy.

If it is really the case that option 1 (china) is considered ongoing torture, and option three is unaffordable/unimplementable, then I guess that option 2 (euthanizing) is a front runner.

The land the facility is on is worth around 750 million, they can afford to keep them comfortable for the rest of their lives. This is trying to extort gov money. The thing is, if the province takes over care, they can take the money from the sale of the property to ensure the care is funded.

This is pure BS on Marine Land.