Calling Toronto’s island airport an underutilized “crown jewel” in the city, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province is taking over the city’s stake in facility with the simple rational that Toronto needs two (major) airports in order to compete with other cities around the world.
“We’re one of the largest cities in North America. Other cities like New York and Chicago have two airports and this is an economic driver, it’s going to create competition,” Ford said.
He said he also wants to expand the runways to allow some types of jets to take off and land at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Currently, only turboprop planes can use the downtown airport.
Ford added, “We will be compensating the city for it and, on top of that, not compensating just for the value, but also for any lost revenues.”
Before the premier’s comments on Tuesday, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she has not seen any “concrete plans” about Ford’s vision for the airport.
“However, having said that, there’s a master plan and I welcome the province in participating in this master plan that deals with the airport,” Chow said.
The federal government is extending the runway, which will be completed by 2027, and Toronto city council recently voted to extend the lease to allow that to happen.
Chow’s office said “a vibrant waterfront means balancing all uses.”
“This decision must be made with a thorough analysis of all the facts and input from Torontonians to ensure the best possible outcome for the city and its residents,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.
“The mayor will continue to insist that the provincial and federal governments work with the city and make sure Toronto is at the table when big decisions are being made about our waterfront.”
The land the airport is operating on is governed by an agreement between the city, the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority, which is a federal agency.
Expansion of the island airport has been a political hot potato for decades. David Miller rose to power during the 2003 mayoral election campaign in part by opposing plans for a fixed bridge to the airport.
The Toronto Port Authority eventually built a pedestrian tunnel to the airport in 2015, a move that was supported by then-mayor Rob Ford, the premier’s brother.
Several hundred people live on a nearby island that make up the broader Toronto Islands. Those residents and others along the shorelines have long been vocal about their opposition to any island airport expansion, including the noise from jets.
But Ford said Monday internal polling showed support for his plan.
On Tuesday Billy Bishop opened a U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance facility at the airport, which eliminates the need to clear customs once passengers land in the U.S.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon was noncommittal when asked Monday about the expansion of runways and the use of jets at the airport.
The airport move is the latest in Ford’s vision for Toronto’s waterfront, where he is spending billions to rebuild Ontario Place and also looking for a spot to build a massive convention centre.
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