‘Power of the people’ key to federal government rejecting province’s Billy Bishop Airport expansion plan, says Beaches-East York MPP McMahon

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Many East Toronto residents have exuded a collective sigh of relief after hearing the federal government has shut down Ontario’s proposed expansion of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, citing concerns related to environmental and housing impacts, noise, and use of public space.

“Following the federal government’s announcement on July 24 that it would not proceed with the expansion, the event transformed from a planned protest into a celebration of this landmark community victory,” reads a media release from a rally hosted by Environmental Defence Canada following the announcement last Friday, July 24.

Beaches-East York Liberal MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon, who was also in attendance at last week’s rally, said Torontonians spoke “loud and clearly” in protest of Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s proposed airport expansion.

“It’s the power of the people. That’s what succeeded, just like the Greenbelt,” said McMahon in a recent interview with Beach Metro Community News regarding the airport expansion plan Ontario’s ruling Progressive Conservative party.

“Torontonians spoke loud and clear. There were so many groups in protest from NoJetsTO to Environmental Defence, but also just residents, associations, big city builders and former chief planners; everyone was involved.”

In the July 24 announcement, Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the federal government will shift focus exclusively on enhancing the airport’s runway safety features already underway, ceasing any future plans for the major runway expansion that would have been needed for jets to land.

According to MacKinnon, Transport Canada received 87,000 responses to the provincial government’s proposed expansion of the airport since Bill 110 (Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026) was announced in March of this year.

With the proposed new bill, the Ontario government would have received “special designation” over the airport that would allow it to bypass municipal and provincial legislation to expand the runway of the island airport to allow for jet landings.

Billy Bishop Airport was operated under a tripartite agreement between Toronto, the Toronto Port Authority, and Transport Canada. However, under Premier Ford’s legislation, the province would take over the city’s role in the agreement.

However, with the provincial plans for airport expansion coming to an end, McMahon said Ontario’s government can now shift its focus to more pressing issues such as housing and transit.

“Provincially, we have a lot of other issues. Important issues to deal with regarding healthcare, transit, et cetera,” said McMahon. “The fact that this premier is so obsessed with Toronto’s waterfront and meddling in municipal affairs is absolutely bizarre.”

While acknowledging Billy Bishop as a vital part of Canada’s air transportation network, as well as a $30-million federal investment to support a recently opened customs pre-clearance facility at the airport, MacKinnon said any future discussions regarding the airport must prioritize the concerns of Torontonians.

For southwest Scarborough resident and NoJetsTO advocate Bob Yaccato, MacKinnon’s sentiment towards Bill 110 underscores the power of Canada’s democratic process.

“Everybody I know has said they’re very happy about it. I haven’t met one person that’s unhappy about this,” Yaccato told Beach Metro Community News in an interview.

“It’s just a good thing to see that if the people get together and object, democracy does work – and this is democracy at its best.”

Many Toronto residents were also quick to oppose the proposed expansion through advocacy efforts such as NoJetsTO: a citywide campaign against jet landings at Billy Bishop.

While many commenting on NoJetsTO’s Facebook page were against the proposed airport expansion, others had were in favour.

“Bigger airport means more tourists and more money for Toronto. You can’t build anything in Canada without passing crazy environmental rules anyways. I guess you’re against Toronto getting bigger and richer because at some point the airport is going to become a bottleneck if they don’t make it bigger,” said one resident’s Facebook post.

Another resident argued that the proposed A220 jets landing on the expanded airport are quieter and more efficient than the current aircrafts operating at Billy Bishop.

“They are slightly quieter than the turboprop flying today, also climb faster, carries 30-50% more passengers per flight. Per passenger, they are at least 25% more efficient. You breathe in a lot more exhaust from the 150k car traffic on Gardiner every single day,” said the resident.

However, residents like Yaccato remain thankful for the federal government’s rejection of Ford’s proposition.

“I can understand where those in favour are coming from, because it does have some positives for travellers. But I think the Beach and our waterfront is something that’s special,” said Yaccato.

When asked about the premier’s next moves, McMahon said Ford needs to focus on setting an example of “fiscal responsibility” to earn back the trust of many Torontonians.

“I hope he’s focused on cleaning up his messes because he’s got some issues to deal with in his own caucus,” said McMahon.