Yet again the public has overwhelming rejected jets at the island airport.  

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In March 2026, the Toronto Port Authority, together with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government tried to expand the airport to accommodate larger passenger jets. The Ford government introduced Bill 110 to extend the airport's runway, and take over the surrounding Little Norway Park and most of Toronto island to allow jets to fly at Billy Bishop Airport. No publicly available business plan or justification of the cost was provided by the Toronto Port Authority. On July 24, 2026 the federal government officially rejected the jets proposal citing an overwhelming 87% public opposition from over 87,000 survey respondents. Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon stated that Ottawa will now focus on approved safety enhancements rather than runway extensions.  

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Toronto now faces a once-in-a-generation choice: continue entrenching an airport that is failing economically on some of the city’s most valuable public waterfront land – or establish a park on these 210 acres to benefit people and nature. 

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There are 3 reasons why the island airport should close and revert to parkland: 
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1. Ports Toronto claims the airport brings financial benefits to the city. But the island airport is heavily subsidized with taxpayers’ money.  

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• The airport continues to lose money.   

• The island airport pays property taxes at a rate far below other businesses in Toronto. Toronto taxpayers have effectively subsidized the airport’s operations by more than $36 million over 20 years. Great for the airport’s investors; not so great for us.

• The federal government already spent $30 million to fund the construction of a US pre-clearance at the airport. Yet, the flights are down and Porter has moved much of its business to Pearson Airport. This money could be better spent.
   

2. The island airport remains a major source of air pollution to nearby high density communities.

• A recent University of Toronto study found the island airport to be the major source of ultrafine particle (UFP) air pollution in the nearby waterfront community, particularly near the new Bathurst Quay Commons, a playground, school, multi income residences and a community centre. On April 15, 2026 the CBC National aired a documentary on the results. Hear what Dr Marianne Hatzopoulou, Head of the Transportation and Air Quality research group at University of Toronto, has to say about the airport’s impacts.

3. Other cities are replacing their downtown airports with visionary alternatives. 

• Cities like Berlin, and Chicago have converted their downtown airports to parkland and Santa Monica, soon to close its city airport in 2028, is considering a wide range of uses including parks, public open spaces and public recreational facilities. It is time for Toronto to join them, particularly now we have a fast speed train to Pearson airport every 15 minutes.   Let’s imagine a better future for our waterfront. 

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Imagine...​

• 210 acres added to the Toronto Islands park system.

• Year-round access through the existing pedestrian tunnel.

• New shoreline, beaches, trails and natural habitat that will protect biodiversity and provide relief from rising temperatures due to the climate crisis. 

• Places for recreation, culture and community life to reduce mental stress.

• The historic airport terminal preserved as part of Toronto’s aviation story.

• A continuous public waterfront stretching from the western waterfront through the harbour which could turn Toronto into a ‘swimmable city’. 

 

Write to your municipal, provincial and federal elected representatives and ask them to 

1. Stop any future expansion of the island airport and return Little Norway Park and the Toronto Islands back under City control.  

2. Work with urban planners to design options for turning these 210 acres into parkland. 

3.  Engage Torontonians in a transparent process to choose a park design option that will best protect biodiversity, enhance public wellbeing and help reduce heat impacts from the climate crisis.  

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