The federal government has turned down a proposal to expand Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Transportation Minister Steven Mac Kinnon released a statement on Friday confirming he would not move forward with the expansion plan put forth by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, which aimed to allow larger and noisier jets at the airport.
“We will always work collaboratively with our partners in studying the region’s connectivity needs and protecting the interests of local residents,” Mac Kinnon wrote.
“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,” he added.
The minister’s comments followed public consultations that wrapped up on Friday after two weeks, garnering over 87,000 responses.
Although an official plan was never shared with the public, the Toronto Port Authority- which operates the airport alongside the City of Toronto and Transport Canada- mentioned that an expansion could cost between $4 and $5 billion and take about 25 years to complete.
In June, the Ford government passed Bill 110 to take control of city-owned airport lands in an effort to sidestep municipal regulations and push for the expansion by designating the area as a “special economic zone.”
Toronto mayor Olivia Chow referred to this action as a “land grab” and labeled it “undemocratic overreach.”
Meanwhile, environmental groups and advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ rights who opposed the expansion raised issues about noise pollution, air quality, sewage concerns, and potential negative effects on wildlife and visitors to the Island.
In a social media post shared on Friday evening, Chow expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Carney and Mac Kinnon for “listening to the people of Toronto.”
“Thank you to everyone who spoke out, shared your voice, and stood up for our community,” Chow wrote on X. “Your relentless advocacy has made a difference. Now that this expansion is not moving forward, we are calling on the Province to return the City’s land.”
“Together, we can continue working to build a waterfront for future generations, with new parks, housing and more,” she added.
Ontario Remains Committed
Despite this setback, provincial officials say they will keep pushing for airport expansion.
In a statement given to City News, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Singh 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.”
“As this work continues, we look forward to seeing-and anticipate-a plan that ensures the project protects public spaces including Toronto Islands while addressing potential noise and environmental impacts,” he added.
Sarkaria noted that their goal is also to enhance Little Norway Park while promoting new housing options in the area along with providing lasting advantages for local communities.
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