NDP urges Mark Carney to stop expansion at Billy Bishop airport

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to step in and block the Ford government’s plan to expand Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, saying, in a letter, that he is the “only one who can stop this expansion.”

The statement, made public this week, repeats arguments made last month that the expansion lacks both public support in Toronto and a compelling business rationale.

The expansion proposal, championed by Premier Doug Ford, would allow jets to operate from the island airport.

It’s accompanied by legislation granting the province greater control over airport lands, expanded expropriation powers, and the ability to create a special economic zone exempt from certain local and provincial rules.

READ MORE: Billy Bishop expansion could extend runway 900 metres into lake

“The implementation of this legislation will rip a beloved space from the public,” Stiles wrote in her letter to Carney.

“Residents of the downtown neighbourhoods will be severely impacted by whatever Premier Ford decides to do with the Toronto Islands and the Billy Bishop Airport expansion. Toronto will see more traffic and worse congestion in one of the busiest parts of Canada’s largest city.”

In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson for the federal Minister of Transport said: “We will work closely with the Province of Ontario and our partners on Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to reflect a modern and sustainable transportation system.”

900 metres of additional land

As previously reported, plans to lengthen the runway at Billy Bishop so it can handle jets could require 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 the emerging concept, the runway would 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 likely extend westward into Lake Ontario, running alongside the shoreline near Ontario Place.

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

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

Premier Ford believes expanding Billy Bishop could boost annual passenger volumes from roughly two million to as many as 10 million.

Last week, Ontario announced its plans to designate Toronto’s island airport as a “special economic zone,” a move aimed at accelerating its expansion after the province assumed control of the airport lands.

Legislation passed last Thursday (May 28) gives the province authority over the lands on the Toronto Islands occupied by Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).

While the law technically allows the province to take control of all island lands, officials say they do not intend to do so and will work with the City of Toronto to use only the property required for airport expansion.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, meanwhile, has sharply criticized the province’s move, accusing the provincial government of sidelining residents and withholding details about its plans for airport expansion.

“We have not seen a formal proposal for airport expansion. The province and the Toronto Port Authority must stop keeping Torontonians in the dark and release their plans now, Chow said in a statement last week, as reported by the Canadian Press.

Government polling vs. “Pearson by the lake”

Expanding the Toronto’s island airport has been discussed for years but has never moved ahead, partly due to public opposition.

However, Ford said provincial polling suggests significant support for the idea.

An online survey conducted by the Ontario government between Nov. 28 and Dec. 2, 2025 polled 2,514 Ontario residents aged 18 and older.

According to the government, about 70 per cent of respondents supported expanding the airport.

But not everyone is on board with the idea. NoJetsTO, a coalition of concerned citizens dedicated to preserving Toronto's mixed-use waterfront, has 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.”

The debate comes on the heels of Billy Bishop opening a brand-new U.S. Preclearance facility, promising faster arrivals, smoother connections, new route opportunities, and a more seamless experience for travellers passing through the airport.

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