As Premier Doug Ford's government considers taking over Billy Bishop Airport and expanding the runway to permit jet operations from the island facility, Toronto City Councillor Josh Matlow is advocating for a comprehensive examination of the implications of such changes.
In a letter addressed to the City’s Planning and Housing Committee, Matlow, who represents Toronto-St. Paul’s, requested that City staff analyze the potential impact of expanding the flight path at Billy Bishop Airport to accommodate jets on future housing supply. He argues that while the airport expansion may be perceived as a catalyst for economic growth, it concurrently poses a risk of "permanently closing the door" to other significant waterfront developments, including new attractions and crucially, new housing.
Amid the ongoing housing crisis in Toronto, Matlow emphasizes that the waterfront area, particularly the Port Lands, represents one of the few locales in the city with the capacity for growth and additional housing construction. He asserts that the introduction of jets would necessitate a considerable reduction in the height and density of forthcoming housing projects in these zones. This, he fears, could have a compounding effect on the affordable housing that must be integrated into future developments.
Matlow articulates his concerns further in his letter, questioning the overall impact of limiting building height on the availability of affordable housing options. "What impact will it have on the services we would like to provide for that new neighbourhood? What impact will it have on the quality of life of those residents? What impact will it have on even the marketing of that neighbourhood if all of a sudden it's like 'welcome to the Port Lands, you're going to have noisy planes going overhead and poor air quality,'" Matlow stated during a press conference at City Hall.
He expressed disappointment that the Premier did not take the initiative to gather essential information regarding the potential positive and negative repercussions of the airport expansion before moving forward. Matlow is urging City staff to conduct the necessary research that he feels the Premier should have undertaken.
Last month, the Ford government announced plans to introduce legislation that would enable the provincial takeover of land from the City of Toronto to facilitate the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport, thereby permitting jets to operate in exchange for "fair compensation." Currently, the property on which the airport is situated is governed by a tripartite agreement established in 1983 among the Toronto Port Authority, the City of Toronto, and the Government of Canada. The Port Authority owns 78 percent of the land, the City of Toronto holds 20 percent, and the federal government retains the remaining 2 percent.
If the proposed legislation is ratified, the Province would assume ownership of the city-owned land and replace the City of Toronto in the tripartite agreement. Moreover, the Province plans to designate the airport as a Special Economic Zone, as stipulated in Bill 5, which was passed the previous year. This designation would allow the Province to bypass municipal and provincial laws for this specific undertaking.
The Ford government release in March stated that this approach would expedite the airport's expansion by streamlining the approval process while maintaining rigorous safety and environmental protections.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Councillor Gord Perks expressed his frustration at what he perceives as Ford's habitual interference in the affairs of Toronto. He remarked, "Let's remember, this is a guy whose first idea was a ferris wheel, then he went to a casino, after that it was a spa, then it was a hotel convention centre and now it's an airport... maybe we should buy him Sim City to go play with." Perks further criticized the lack of transparency regarding what exactly is being proposed by the Province to the City of Toronto, emphasizing the need for democratic engagement in local decision-making processes.
Despite the City potentially being sidelined in airport expansion discussions, Matlow maintains that city councillors have a responsibility to ensure that all relevant information is available for responsible decision-making. He has urged city staff to expedite the proposed study, noting the urgent intentions of Doug Ford to advance the introduction of jets at Billy Bishop Airport.
