Toronto Mayor Asks Province to Return Island Land After Feds Nix Airport Expansion Plan

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow hold a news conference in Toronto on Nov. 27, 2023. The Canadian Press/Chris Young

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is calling on the province of Ontario to give up the right to expropriate land in the Toronto Islands after the federal government’s recent rejection of a proposed expansion of the Billy Bishop Airport.

Chow is co-filing a motion with Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik asking councillors to approve a formal demand that Ontario repeal the legislation under which the province obtained the right to expropriate the land. The proposed motion, expected to be filed July 29, asks the province to “give back” land at the Toronto Islands and Little Norway Park.

It also asks that Toronto be restored as one of the three parties, along with the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority, that governs Billy Bishop Airport.

“Return our waterfront to us,” Chow posted July 27 on social media.

Proposed Expansion

Plans to expand the airport included lengthening the runway to accommodate jets as well as making upgrades to the terminal and other infrastructure in order to eventually boost Billy Bishop’s annual passenger traffic from its current volume of roughly 2 million per year up to 10 million per year.

The proposal was backed by Ontario and the Toronto Port Authority but opposed by the City of Toronto.

Bill 110 became law early last month and gave Ontario authority to expropriate any land it wished in the Toronto Islands and also took Toronto out of the long-time tripartite agreement governing the airport.

The Ford government had said it would only take over land it considered necessary for the airport expansion. Premier Doug Ford has said a larger Billy Bishop Airport could be a “crown jewel” that would bring in billions of dollars per year in economic activity.

However, Ottawa rejected the province’s proposal on July 24 citing concerns raised by some Torontonians about noise, environmental harms, waterfront space reductions, and potential limitations it could cause to plans to build more housing.

Federal Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon said Ottawa is “exclusively” concerned with ensuring that various ongoing safety upgrades are completed at Billy Bishop Airport and said the federal government will not be moving ahead with expansion plans at this stage.

“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 in a statement.

In her post supporting the motion for Ontario to return the land, Chow outlined various reasons why she said city councillors oppose the expansion.

“We have researched the impacts on housing, the environment, congestion, and more. We have discovered who would benefit - like the Wall Street bankers at JP Morgan. Council has formally opposed the unacceptable overreach. We still do,” Chow wrote.

“We thank the Federal government for listening, and the thousands of people who worked relentlessly to make Toronto’s voices heard.”

Chow said the motion is being treated as urgent since council won’t meet again before the Ontario legislature reconvenes this fall.

Ontario’s Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria said the Ford government will keep advocating for expanding the airport while also ensuring that all concerns are addressed.

“As this work continues, we look forward to seeing and anticipate a plan that ensures 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,” Sarkaria posted July 24 on X.