The federal government says it won’t support Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to expand Billy Bishop Airport to allow jets to take off and land there.
In a post on the social media platform X, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says the government will focus exclusively on “approved safety enhancements” for the airport and Toronto residents will have a say in future plans for the facility.
MacKinnon said the government received more than 87,000 responses to its consultation on the airport, which ended Friday.
About 87 per cent of respondents to the public survey were opposed to changes to the waterfront airport, said spokesperson Marie-Justine Torres on Saturday. She said about 80 per cent of the survey responses came from Toronto and another 15 per cent from the GTHA.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said at an unrelated event Saturday that while the province may have taken the land away from the city, the decision on what happens there falls with the federal government.
She said the city is working with the port authority to continue safety expansion work to the runway, which won’t be large enough for jets.
“What I do want is I want our land back,” she said. “There’s no reason for the province to keep Little Norway Park or the Toronto Islands or Hanlan’s Point.”
Ford wants to expand Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to allow jets to land and take off, an idea he said the federal government has endorsed. But as CBC’s Lorenda Reddekopp explains, Carney said he has not yet formed an opinion, pending broad consultations expected to take place this summer.
Chow thanked Prime Minister Mark Carney and MacKinnon for listening to local residents.
“Thank you to everyone who spoke out, shared your voice, and stood up for our community. Your relentless advocacy has made a difference,” Chow said in a statement Friday night.
MacKinnon said the airport is a critical part of Canada’s transportation network and that the voice of Torontonians will shape future plans for Billy Bishop.
He said Ottawa will always work collaboratively with its partners to “study the region’s connectivity needs and protecting the interests of local residents.”
“However, we will not pursue any plans that infringe on treasured public spaces like Little Norway Park or Hanlan’s Point Beach, result in elevated noise, have significant environmental impacts, or hinder Toronto’s ability to build much-needed housing.”
MacKinnon said the government heard feedback on a number of issues through its consultation, including transportation, economics, environmental protection, noise, housing and quality of life. He added that the airport safety enhancements are expected to be completed in mid-2027.
Minister says province to ‘work to advance’ expansion
Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a post on X on Friday night that the provincial government still has plans for the airport.
“We look forward to continuing to work to advance the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport,” Sarkaria said.
“The benefits are clear: the project will contribute up to $8.5 billion to Canada’s economy every year, create thousands of jobs, and improve connectivity for millions of travellers and businesses across Ontario, North America and beyond,” he said.
Sarkaria said the plan would ensure the project “protects public spaces, including the Toronto Islands, addresses potential noise and environmental impacts, expands and improves Little Norway Park, supports new housing opportunities in the area, and delivers lasting benefits for local communities.”
Chow said she would like to speak with Sarkaria to clarify what he means with the province’s plans. But she noted that it was clear the federal minister has stopped an expansion for jets.
“I can’t see how anyone can do an extended runway to bring jets in if the federal minister and the federal government say no,” she said.
Toronto Region Board of Trade president and CEO Giles Gherson said the federal government’s decision is “disappointing.”
“To meet the needs of a significantly expanding population, Toronto needs to get on with developing its transportation infrastructure,” he said. “The Board is not looking for revolution; we’re looking for Billy Bishop’s evolution.”
“The future of Billy Bishop is not a choice between the status quo and an intrusive mega airport on the water — it is between stagnation and a valuable regional airport that modernizes with staged growth over time to meet the needs of a rising population,” Gherson added.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is condemning the Toronto Port Authority after being asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement when discussing plans for the future of Billy Bishop Airport. CBC’s Naama Weingarten has the details — and reaction.
Ford had said he hoped to quintuple annual passenger traffic from around two million to 10 million at the island airport.
The province passed legislation in May to take Toronto’s place in a tripartite agreement that governs the airport and to take over city-owned lands on the adjacent waterfront and the Toronto Islands. Previously, the agreement was between the city, federal government and Toronto Port Authority, a federal agency.
The bill received royal assent in June. The Toronto Port Authority supported the airport expansion.
The Toronto Port Authority issued a statement Saturday, saying it’s been advised the federal government is still focused on implementation and completion of runway end safety areas at the airport.
“As the owners and operators of the airport, the Toronto Port Authority will work to fulfil this initiative and ensure the needs of the city and region are met for the future,” it said.
Decision ‘monumental victory’ for Toronto: advocate
Tim Gray, executive director of advocacy group Environmental Defence, called Ottawa’s decision a “monumental victory” for Toronto, the waterfront and its residents.
“The federal government’s decision to ground the proposal to expand the Toronto Island Airport to accommodate jets is a triumph for community power and democratic participation,” Gray said.
“You can’t buy our waterfront. We just proved it.”
He said the province’s plan “made no sense” as the federal government concluded about a year ago that there is capacity at Pearson airport and that larger airports elsewhere in the GTA were not needed.
The decision to reject the expansion plan followed massive public opposition, he said.
“This victory proves that Torontonians will not stand by while our waterfront, our parks, and our quality of life are threatened.”
