Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government has rejected Ontario’s proposed expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, saying a two-month public consultation found overwhelming opposition to the plan.
Federal Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon announced the decision Friday night after more than 87,000 responses were received during the consultation, which wrapped up the same day.
For the construction and infrastructure sector, the decision puts the brakes on a proposed expansion that would have involved significant changes to the airport’s existing footprint and surrounding waterfront lands.
Toronto Port Authority CEO RJ Steenstra told a Queen’s Park committee in May that the expansion was expected to cost $4 billion to $5 billion over 25 years.
“At this stage, I can confirm that our focus lies exclusively on the approved safety enhancements, which are currently taking place, and are required to maintain safe operations at the airport,” MacKinnon said in a statement. “They are expected to be completed in mid-2027.”
The decision follows Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement in March outlining plans to expand the downtown airport and increase its capacity.
“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 said.
Ontario had planned taking over the City of Toronto’s role under the tripartite agreement governing the airport and expropriating city-owned lands connected to the facility. The province also proposed designating the airport a Special Economic Zone to streamline approvals.
Bill 110, the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, received royal assent June 2. It allows the province to take ownership of prescribed city-owned airport lands and remove Toronto from the 1983 tripartite agreement, replacing the city with the provincial Crown. The legislation provides for compensation based on market value and binding arbitration if there is a dispute.
The proposed expansion would allow larger aircraft to operate from Billy Bishop and increase the airport’s ability to handle future passenger demand. Ontario argued the project would support tourism and business travel, increase airline competition and reduce pressure on Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Opponents, however, pointed to potential effects on waterfront parks, noise, environmental impacts and housing development.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow welcomed the federal decision and called on the province to reverse its expropriation of city-owned land.
“Thank you to the federal government for listening to the people of Toronto,” Chow said.
Before Ontario’s expropriation, the city owned about 20 per cent of the airport lands. The province also expropriated land at the foot of Bathurst Street, including part of Little Norway Park.
The federal decision does not affect safety improvements already approved for Billy Bishop.
Construction is underway on Runway End Safety Areas, or RESAs, at the ends of the airport’s runway. The safety zones are intended to reduce the risk and severity of an aircraft overrun.
Work is expected to be completed in mid-2027.
