Federal government blocks Ford's Billy Bishop airport expansion plan
Minister Steven MacKinnon rejected the proposal after 87% of public consultation respondents opposed it, citing environmental and housing concerns.
Sources · local media reports
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Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon has rejected Premier Doug Ford's plan to expand Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to allow jets to land and take off from it. The rejection came after 87 per cent of the 87,000 respondents to a public consultation opposed the idea.
MacKinnon said in a statement that the government will not pursue plans that infringe on 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 housing.
The Ford government had made the island airport expansion a key feature in its spring sitting, passing Bill 110 in early June, which gave the province the ability to take over the entirety of the Toronto Islands. Ontario also removed the city from a long-standing tripartite agreement governing Billy Bishop, joining only the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority.
Toronto Port Authority CEO RJ Steenstra had told a Queen's Park committee that the expansion would cost upwards of $5 billion, to be paid by airlines and passengers over 25 years. The Ford government wanted to increase passenger volume from two million per year to 10 million.
Mayor Olivia Chow has now filed a motion demanding the province repeal Bill 110 and return the waterfront land to the city. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said Tuesday the province has "no intention to repeal" the legislation, calling the federal decision disappointing.
The facts
What percentage of public consultation respondents opposed the Billy Bishop expansion?
87 per cent of the 87,000 respondents to the federal public consultation opposed the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport expansion plan.
What did Minister MacKinnon say would block the expansion?
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the government will not pursue plans that infringe on 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 housing.
How much was the Billy Bishop expansion projected to cost?
Toronto Port Authority CEO RJ Steenstra said the expansion would cost upwards of $5 billion, to be funded by airlines and passengers over 25 years.
What passenger volume increase did the Ford government want at Billy Bishop?
The Ford government wanted to increase passenger volume at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport from two million per year to 10 million per year.
