Hundreds of Torontonians celebrate after feds reject Billy Bishop jet expansion

Hundreds of Toronto residents and advocates are celebrating Sunday after the federal government rejected support for a proposed expansion to accommodate jets at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport.

A previously planned rally to save Toronto’s waterfront became a celebration of the power of community, a news release by advocacy groups NoJetsTO and Environmental Defence said. The rally, march and flotilla event Sunday kicked off at Harbour Square Park, then marched along Queens Quay and landed at HTO Park.

NoJetsTO chair Norm Di Pasquale told CBC Toronto it’s a thrilling, pleasing day.

“I just went down to the waterfront and random people are giving us high fives because people know what this fight was about,” he said. “It’s about saving our beautiful revitalized waterfront.”

On Friday, federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the government is “exclusively” focusing on approved safety upgrades already underway at Billy Bishop Airport, rather than on building it out to allow jets to land.

He said the conclusion was based on public consultations that garnered more than 87,000 responses with nearly 87 per cent of respondents opposed to changes for jets. But MacKinnon also left the door open a crack to a potential change of course in future years, framing the decision as “at this stage,” instead of as a final one.

More than 6,000 lawn signs were distributed across Toronto with thousands of residents sending letters to their local Member of Parliament. Di Pasquale says he’s proud of each and every person who was a part of securing the victory.

“People are so concerned about this issue,” he said. “In the end, they heard. And we just wanted to make sure our voice was heard, loud and clear.”

Premier Doug Ford’s proposal to extend the airport’s runway 600 metres west — on top of the 150-metre runway end safety zones already in the offing — drew criticism from environmental and community advocates over concerns around the project’s effect on noise, traffic and pollution levels, as well as affordable housing and the Toronto waterfront itself.

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said in a post on X on Friday night that the provincial government still has plans for the airport and looks forward to “continuing to work to advance the expansion.”

He said the plan would ensure the project “protects public spaces, including the Toronto Islands, addresses potential noise and environmental impacts, expands and improves Little Norway Park, supports new housing opportunities in the area, and delivers lasting benefits for local communities.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who was at Sunday’s event, told reporters she wants Little Norway Park back for the children who enjoy playing at the playground and softball pitches.

“This is our waterfront. This is our island,” she said. “The path forward is to give our land back.”

“Democracy matters, those voices matter. And when they spoke with one voice, don’t touch our waterfront, protect it, it matters,” Chow added. “I just see this as a win for the people.”

Member of Provincial Parliament Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York), who was present at Sunday’s community event, told CBC Toronto it would be “grossly unfair” to subject people who have made a home out of the downtown and waterfront area to increased pollution, noise and tourism.

“I think [Ford] would be really really foolish to put this back on the table,” he said. “We [have to] remain vigilant.”

Attendee Karen Lavut told CBC Toronto she came out to the rally to save her city and the environment. She said she was elated to hear of the federal government’s rejection.

“I was about to go to bed and when I heard the news at about midnight. I dashed outside and danced and went for a long walk and was all by myself,” she said. “It was wonderful.”

Lavut says she used to live on the island and it holds a special place in her heart. But, she says she had lost hope.

“It means everything to me. The island’s part of my history and it’s what I love most about Toronto,” she said.