After greater than a half century in limbo, the federal authorities has deserted plans for an airport at a web site in Pickering, Ont., and can as an alternative look to switch land to Parks Canada.
Transport Minister Anita Anand stated a brand new airport was not one of the best use of the realm northeast of Toronto and the federal government intends to switch the “high conservation value lands” to the company that manages nationwide parklands.
“We will soon begin public consultations to determine future uses, taking into account the region’s greatest needs,” she stated in a press release Monday.
A battle over the way forward for the land in Pickering has brewed since a minimum of 1972 when Pierre Trudeau’s authorities expropriated about 18,600 acres for a potential airport web site. The transfer sparked protest, and the federal government put the plans on maintain three years later in favour of increasing the province’s already-built airports.
Metropolis council and opposing advocacy teams have since wrestled over how the land needs to be used. A part of the land overlaps with Ontario’s protected greenbelt space, and a conservation group has advocated for what’s nonetheless held by the federal government to be added to the Rouge Nationwide City Park.
Prior to now decade, the federal government has transferred greater than half the land to Parks Canada for the creation after which the enlargement of the park.
However Transport Canada held on to about 8,700 acres of the land for a possible future airport. The federal government says properties have since been leased to residential, farm and industrial tenants.
Consultations might be held with the general public, Indigenous communities and the tenants within the “coming weeks” to find out future use of the lands, the federal government stated.
Pickering metropolis council voted in 2023 to formally withdraw its assist for the airport plan. It cited a Transport Canada-commissioned report that concluded southern Ontario wouldn’t want a brand new airport earlier than 2036.
The one vote in opposition to the movement was forged by Mayor Kevin Ashe, who advised the airport can be a serious financial driver to assist assist the town’s projected inhabitants growth.
The mayor didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 27, 2025.
Jordan Omstead, The Canadian Press
