As Ford moves on Toronto’s island airport, those fighting the takeover want Ottawa to speak up

Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport is the focal point of an unfolding battle between the city and the province. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has put forward legislation to take it over, which Mayor Olivia Chow has called a “power grab” that must be stopped.

But there’s a third player when it comes to the island airport: the federal government, which has not taken an official stance.

There are 23 Liberal MPs within Toronto’s city bounds. Canada’s National Observer reached out to all of them and received a response from only one.

The Toronto Port Authority — an arm’s-length federal agency — presently operates the airport. The City of Toronto owns 20 per cent of the land, while the Toronto Port Authority and Transport Canada hold the remainder. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the takeover plan a “very interesting vision,” and has said “it’s something that’s moving,” but his government will not be making a “premature determination.” Meanwhile, Ford said as recently as this week that he is “pretty confident the federal government is in support of creating more jobs, more opportunities, making it convenient for people to fly in. And, make it more affordable.” 

Part of Ford’s takeover plan also includes allowing jets at the airport — current operations only allow smaller planes — which has raised environmental, noise and climate concerns.

MP Julie Dzerowicz, who represents the federal riding of Davenport and is also the chair of the Toronto Liberal Caucus, was the sole Liberal MP to respond to questions from Canada’s National Observer.

Dzerowicz said even if the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, or Bill 110, passes as expected, the province “cannot unilaterally change how the airport operates.”

“The federal government and Ports Toronto still have to agree. The federal government has also been clear that any changes must be accompanied by meaningful consultation with stakeholders, affected communities and Indigenous peoples,” she said.

“And in my view — and I want to be clear, this is my position and not a legal requirement — the City of Toronto must remain a key voice in those consultations even if it is no longer a signatory. You cannot have a real conversation about Toronto’s waterfront without the City of Toronto.”

Toronto councillors and Ontario’s opposition parties have been calling for the inclusion of the City of Toronto in Ford’s planning. Last week, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles called on Carney “to use the federal government’s role in this agreement to put an end to Ford’s waterfront takeover.” In late March, when Ford first announced his airport plans, the federal Green Party released a statement aligning with its provincial counterpart, also calling on Carney to step in.

“Toronto residents have every reason to be alarmed by the bulldozer style of politics we are seeing from Ottawa and Queen’s Park,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.

“Billy Bishop expansion cannot happen without federal approval. GTA Liberal MPs are silent, or worse, laying the groundwork to support Ford.”

When the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act was introduced on April 23, Toronto city council was alarmed at the inclusion of the harbourfront Little Norway Park, which the bill mentions taking over as part of the airport expansion. It also gives the province the power to take over most of the Toronto Islands, as reported by TorontoToday, though the Toronto Port Authority said the expansion plans will not impact any public part of the island. Ford has since said he will not take over Little Norway Park.

But Dzerowicz said her concern is what is contained in Bill 110 and its contrast with what the province is saying publicly. 

“The province said it intended to take only the land needed to expand the airport. The legislation is broader. If the province only intends to take what it needs for the airport, the legislation should reflect that,” she said.

In March, Ford said he would make the airport a “special economic zone,” a controversial designation that allows projects to be fast-tracked under the province’s Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, intended to speed up approvals. Dzerowicz said the legislation’s overreach and plans to use economic zones that may override provincial and municipal laws is “not how you build trust.”

Dzerowicz noted the office of federal Transportation Minister Steve MacKinnon has “stated publicly that any decisions will require the consensus of all signatories and robust consultation with stakeholders, affected communities and Indigenous groups.” She said the federal government will “insist on real consultation” even if Toronto is removed from the agreement through Bill 110.

“We are listening closely to the concerns being raised on safety, noise, emissions, the [Toronto] Islands, parks, the housing on the Port Lands and the balance of uses on the waterfront. Federal consent to operational changes will be difficult to secure unless those concerns are properly addressed,” she said.

“This file will take time, likely over a year. That is more than enough time for meaningful consultation, and it is work that our federal government and Toronto Liberal MPs, including me, are committed to.”

In late April, Liberal MP Chi Nguyen, whose riding includes Billy Bishop, told the CBC that she “doesn’t have an official position” on the airport, but has lots of questions, noting that the Ford government hasn’t put forward any plans for her to consider. She did not respond by deadline for this story, nor did Ford’s office or Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation.