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 a substitute look to increase the world’s city nationwide park.
Transport Minister Anita Anand mentioned the federal government had determined towards turning the Pickering lands into an airport and would as a substitute switch the “overwhelming majority” of it to Parks Canada with the intent to increase the Rouge Nationwide City Park.
“Our objective is to make sure this house advantages everybody in the present day, and for generations to return,” she mentioned on Monday. Anand was certainly one of 4 cupboard ministers to attend the announcement.
A battle over the way forward for the land 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.
At Monday’s announcement, a neighborhood Liberal MP credited conservation group Land Over Landings for its long-standing advocacy towards the airport and for the safety of the land.
“This work continues to make sure the way forward for these lands replicate our shared imaginative and prescient. However lastly, after 50 years, a risk of an airport is over and our future is vibrant,” mentioned Jennifer O’Connell, MP for Pickering-Uxbridge.
Pickering metropolis council voted in 2023 to 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 towards the movement was forged by Mayor Kevin Ashe, who prompt the airport can be a serious financial driver to assist assist town’s projected inhabitants increase.
The mayor didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
A satellite picture over the Pickering lands reveals the tough web site of the place a proposed Pickering airport was set to be constructed. A lot of the land is taken into account Class 1 soil, the best grade of farmland. (Google Earth)
Previously decade, the federal government has transferred greater than half the Pickering land to Parks Canada for the creation after which the enlargement of the Rouge Nationwide City 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.
Nearly all of the lands are agricultural and span an space throughout Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge. The realm overlaps elements of Ontario’s protected Greenbelt and is the normal and treaty lands of the First Nations who signed the Williams Treaty.
Consultations to start out quickly
Consultations will likely 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 mentioned.
“We wish to get occurring the consultations. There is not any time to waste,” Anand mentioned.
The land not transferred to Parks Canada will stick with Transport Canada and endure one other session on future makes use of, a spokesperson for Anand mentioned.
Anand mentioned she expects the remaining land that falls inside Ontario’s Greenbelt will likely be protected.
“It has been a really very long time coming,” mentioned Rosemary Oliver, who has lived close to the Rouge for 4 a long time and confirmed to as much as hear Anand’s announcement on Monday.
“Folks have been working at it for all these years. They’ve by no means stopped. This present day is an enormous landmark in defending a vital space.”
Ottawa to construct new customer centre at Rouge Park
Transport Canada and the minister’s workplace didn’t reply to questions in regards to the consequence of the division’s 2023 request for proposal to review airport capability wants in southern Ontario.
A division information launch on the time mentioned the examine would mark the “first step” towards a closing choice on future airport capability constraints and on the way forward for the Pickering lands.
Hikers stroll by way of a forest in Toronto’s Rouge Nationwide City Park in June 2021. The Rouge, Canada’s first nationwide city park, was created in 2015. (Giordano Ciampini/The Canadian Press)
At Monday’s announcement, Anand mentioned Toronto Pearson Airport and the Billy Bishop Toronto Metropolis Airport had been “extraordinarily essential hubs.”
The federal government can be set to spend $21 million to construct a brand new customer, studying and group centre on the Rouge Nationwide City Park. It says the park is about an hour’s drive from 20 per cent of Canada’s inhabitants and is accessible by public transit.
