Overview
- Ontario introduced the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act on Thursday to replace the City of Toronto in the airport’s governing deal and expropriate identified city lands, including about one-third of Little Norway Park.
- Mayor Olivia Chow filed an urgent council motion opposing what she called a land grab, asking the federal government to step in and directing staff to explore legal action to protect parks and municipal authority.
- The province said it would offer market-value compensation and work to lessen park impacts, while the Toronto Port Authority pledged equal or greater neighborhood green space and floated converting nearby parking areas into parkland.
- Key details remain unsettled, including how long the runway would be, which parcels are needed, and the timeline, and jet service still needs federal approval under a tripartite agreement that currently bans jets.
- Ontario plans to use a special economic zone designation to fast-track the project by suspending some provincial and local rules, a move critics say could weaken environmental and planning safeguards.