Toronto/CMEDIA: Ontario Premier Doug Ford reportedly told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that the province will be taking over control of Billy Bishop airport on Toronto Island.
Ford says the city needs two airports to compete with other cities around the world.
“This is a crown jewel,” said Ford and added the City of Toronto, which currently has jurisdiction of the airport, will be compensated for the value and for any lost revenue.
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.
The idea of bringing jets to the downtown airport was brought up by Ford in his keynote address at the Feb. 26 Toronto Region Board of Trade annual dinner and added that he wants to extend the runway.
Currently, only turboprop planes can use the downtown airport.
“This is an economic driver,” the premier said.
Ford told reporters that he had told Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow about the plan when she visited his home.
At a news conference Tuesday morning, Chow said she does not support bringing jets downtown due to the noise.
She also told reporters she has not heard official plans from the province about changes to the airport, but it’s possible the province could take over the lands.
“There needs to be discussion so that the use of the waterfront is balanced,” Chow said. “I welcome the province in participating in this conversation.”
Last week, Roelof-Jan Steenstra, CEO of the Toronto Port Authority, which operates the airport, said he is ready to work together with the province and supports Ford’s vision to bring jets to Billy Bishop.
Ford’s vision for Toronto’s waterfront has the airport move as the latest, where he is spending billions to rebuild Ontario Place and is also looking for a spot to build a massive convention centre.
