Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is calling on the Ontario government to repeal legislation giving it control over a portion of Toronto’s waterfront lands after the federal government ruled out expanding Billy Bishop Airport. Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, however, says the province has “no intention” of repealing legislation that transferred control of city-owned waterfront lands to the province and will continue pushing for the airport’s modernization despite Ottawa’s decision. “If the answer is no, why do you want a local park and local beaches? Like it’s always belonged to the City of Toronto,” Chow said in an interview with CTV News Toronto on Tuesday. “We’re hoping the provincial government will return the land back into the city’s hands.” On Monday, Chow introduced an urgent motion to City Council appealing to the province. Last Friday, the federal government halted plans over a potential expansion of Billy Bishop Airport after Transport Minister Steven McKinnon said upgrades would be limited to approved safety enhancements already underway and would not include the extension of the runway. The fate of the Toronto Islands and other waterfront properties now hang in the balance following the passing of legislation in March that allowed the province to seize control of the lands. During a news conference in London, Ont., on Tuesday afternoon, Sarkaria said he was “disappointed with the statement that was released by the federal government on Friday” but vowed to continue pushing for the expansion of the airport. “We have seen the federal government listen to a small fringe group in Toronto,” he said. “We as the province will continue to push forward on a modernization of this airport because it is the right thing to do.” Chow asking for the provincial government to return the lands Chow, meanwhile, is now calling for the provincial government to repeal Bill 110 and return the land to the city, which includes several parkland areas, the island itself and the surrounding island shoreline near Hanlan’s Point. In her interview with CTV News Toronto, Chow noted that the city is looking to continue fixing eroding beaches that are near the area initially slated for development. “We have the Hammonds Point Beach. There’s several beaches on the Toronto Islands. We’re about to spend a bit of money because it’s been eroding,” she said. When asked if the provincial government has any plans to repeal legislation granting it authority over Toronto’s waterfront, Sarkaria said it has “no intention” to do so. Sarkaria added that the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport “makes sense from an economic perspective as well as preparing its future not just for the next four years but for the next 20, 30, 50 years.” “As I have said, we fully support the modernization plan put forward by the Toronto Port Authority,” he said. “We urge the federal government to continue to consider that proposal because it is a proposal that makes sense for people that want to travel through air and have different options and it is also about building big projects.” Chow wants to see ‘business plan’ Chow has since launched a petition asking residents to petition the province to return the land to City of Toronto. She has also tabled a “urgent” motion that will be considered y Toronto City Council this week that asks the province to return the lands. “The Ford government has always said that if you expand the island airport, it can bring in billions of dollars each year into the economy. How do you respond to that? I can’t see how that would work. I would love to see a business plan, a business case,” Chow said.
