Photo credit: Toronto Star
The gloves are coming all off as Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow attempts to rally Torontonians to combat the Doug Ford government’s plans to take over and expand Billy Bishop Airport.
City News reports that on Thursday, the Province introduced the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026, which looks to further develop the airport by extending the runway to allow jets to operate from the island facility.
If passed, the province will assume the City of Toronto’s role in the tripartite agreement between the City, the Toronto Port Authority, and the federal government that governs the airport. It will also expropriate city-owned lands at the airport, which includes one-third of Little Norway Park alongside Eireann Quay.
The 2.4-hectare park at Bathurst Street and Queens Quay West was established in 1986, and its name commemorates the World War II training base, used by the Norwegian Air Force, that once occupied the site.
Along with the park, the Province has listed seven other properties near the airport stated to be expropriated, but Chow is zeroing in on the greenspace as the battleground for the City’s fight against what she calls a “power grab” by the Province.
Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria told reporters on Thursday that the Province is working with the City on the plans.
Chow maintains that neither City staff nor residents have been privy to any plans for the expansion. She also pointed out that the federal government hasn’t signed off on it yet either.
