The federal government has rejected a plan to expand Billy Bishop City Airport in Toronto. Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon issued a statement Friday saying that he would not proceed with the expansion plan suggested by Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “We will always work collaboratively with our partners in studying the region’s connectivity needs and protecting the interests of local residents,” MacKinnon 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 come on the heels of public consultations which ended Friday after a two-week period and elicited more than 87,000 responses. While an official plan was never released to the public, the Toronto Port Authority, which jointly operates the airport under a tripartite agreement with the City of Toronto and Transport Canada, stated that an expansion would likely cost between $4 and $5 billion, with construction lasting approximately 25 years.
In June, the Ford government passed Bill 110 to seize control of city-owned airport lands in an attempt to bypass municipal laws and get the expansion built by designating the area a “special economic zone.” Toronto mayor Olivia Chow characterized the move as a “land grab” and called it “undemocratic overreach.” Environmental and 2SLGBTQ+ rights groups also opposed the plan, along with Toronto’s top doctor Michelle Murti who raised concerns last week about the potential for increased air pollution and noise that would come with an expanded airport. The just-concluded public survey suggested strong public opposition to the project, according to a federal government official.
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