Feds ground Billy Bishop airport expansion after public opposition: report

The federal government has decided not to proceed with a proposed expansion of Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) after a public consultation found overwhelming opposition to the plan, the Toronto Star reports.

A senior federal official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the outlet, confirmed that the expansion will not move forward.

“A large overwhelming amount of Canadians do not want the expansion of Billy Bishop to allow for jets and we will not be moving forward on it,” the official said. “We will not be pursuing any plans that infringe on important public spaces like Little Norway Park and Hanlan’s Point.”

Transport Canada's public consultation on the proposal closed Friday (July 24).

While the department is still tabulating the results, the official said roughly 87,000 people participated, reports The Star.

About 80 per cent of respondents were from the City of Toronto, with another 15 per cent coming from the surrounding region.

According to the official, 87 per cent of participants opposed changes that would expand the airport.

The federal government also cited concerns about the potential impact an expanded airport could have on planned housing development in Toronto's downtown waterfront.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford first announced plans for the airport expansion in March.

However, while the province has taken a greater role in the airport's governance, the federal government continues to hold the majority of seats on the Toronto Port Authority board, which oversees Billy Bishop Airport.

Until earlier this year, the airport operated under a tripartite agreement involving the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and the federal government. The agreement required unanimous support from all three parties for any expansion.

That changed in May after the Ontario government passed legislation removing the City of Toronto from the agreement. Following the change, Transport Canada launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposal.

Two sides

The Ford government's argument was that the project would provide a significant economic boost to the region.

It was said the expansion would have increased annual passenger volumes from about two million to as many as 10 million.

Although the government did not conduct public consultations on the proposal, Premier Ford repeatedly said internal polling indicated that more than 70 per cent of respondents support expanding Billy Bishop.

READ MORE: NDP urges Mark Carney to stop expansion at Billy Bishop airport

But not everyone was on board with the idea.

NoJetsTO, a coalition of concerned citizens dedicated to preserving Toronto's mixed-use waterfront, launched a petition against the waterfront development.

“In the winter we skate, in the summer we attend festivals and sample delicious food. Waterfront activities attract 17 million visits per year,” reads the petition. “An expanded Island Airport with jets will change all this, turning the Waterfront into Pearson-by-the-Lake.”

Studies examining the project's potential health risks and impacts on water quality were also underway.

900 metres of additional land

As previously reported, lengthening Billy Bishop’s runway would have required as much as 900 metres of additional land out into Lake Ontario — significantly more than what was considered when a similar proposal was rejected about ten years ago.

Under one concept, the runway would have had to be extended by about 600 metres, plus 150-metre safety zones at each end already planned, bringing the total extension to roughly 900 metres, the Globe and Mail reported.

Most of the new structure (up to 750 metres) would have likely extend westward into Lake Ontario, running alongside the shoreline near Ontario Place.

Port Authority CEO RJ Steenstra previously said the expansion would have been funded by airlines and passengers rather than taxpayers, with costs estimated at $4 billion to $5 billion over 25 years.

Mr. Steenstra also noted that the expanded runway would have been shorter than major airports like Toronto Pearson and would have accommodated smaller jets, such as the Embraer E195-E2 and Airbus A220, which carry around 135–160 passengers.

The debate has come on the heels of Billy Bishop opening a brand-new U.S. Preclearance facility, promising faster arrivals and new route opportunities.

Plans halted

Despite shelving the broader expansion plans, the federal government will still allow safety-related runway improvements at Billy Bishop required under Transport Canada regulations, The Star reports.

This latest decision marks the second time a Liberal government has rejected plans to expand Billy Bishop airport.

Shortly after taking office in 2015, the government of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau ended discussions around a previous proposal to allow jets at the downtown airport.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today! Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.