Ford’s Jet-Set Fantasy Hits a Federal Wall
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
OPINION: After a failed attempt to force through a multi-billion dollar airport expansion, it is time for the province to stop the 'land grab' and return city property.
Let’s be clear: Premier Doug Ford’s vision for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport was never about the average Torontonian. It was a vanity project designed for the elite, and it just hit a concrete wall in Ottawa.
On Friday, Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon delivered a decisive blow to the provincial government's plans. In a statement reported by CityNews Toronto, Global News Toronto, and CBC Toronto, MacKinnon confirmed the federal government will not proceed with an expansion that would have allowed larger, noisier jets to operate from the island. Instead, Ottawa is focusing exclusively on approved runway safety enhancements, which are expected to be finished by mid-2027.
This isn't just a policy disagreement; it is a victory for democratic participation. According to MacKinnon, more than 87,000 people responded to the federal consultation process. The message was loud and clear: residents will not trade Hanlan’s Point Beach, Little Norway Park, and the peace of the Toronto Islands for the convenience of a few more jet flights. MacKinnon explicitly stated that the government would not support plans that infringe on treasured public spaces, increase noise, cause significant environmental damage, or obstruct the city's ability to build essential housing.
Yet, the way the Ford government attempted to achieve this expansion was nothing short of an authoritarian land grab. As reported by CityNews Toronto and CBC Toronto, the province passed Bill 110 in June to seize control of city-owned airport lands. By designating the area a “special economic zone,” the province attempted to bypass municipal laws and push through a project that the Toronto Port Authority estimated could cost between $4 billion and $5 billion and take 25 years to build.
Mayor Olivia Chow rightly characterized this move as “undemocratic overreach.” Now that the federal government has grounded the proposal, Mayor Chow is calling on the province to return the city's land so the waterfront can be used for parks and housing rather than runways for jets. Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence, called the decision a “monumental victory,” noting that the waterfront is not for sale.
Despite this crushing defeat, the province is refusing to admit it is wrong. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria told CityNews Toronto and Global News Toronto that the province remains committed to the expansion, claiming it would create thousands of jobs and contribute $8.5 billion annually to the economy. Sarkaria is now attempting to pivot, suggesting the project could somehow “improve” Little Norway Park and support housing—the very things the federal government cited as reasons for the rejection.
It is time to stop the charade. The province attempted to steamroll the city and its residents to build a playground for the wealthy. With the federal government refusing to budge, there is no longer any justification for the province to hold onto city land. The Ford government needs to stop chasing this fantasy and return the land to the people of Toronto.