Ford Government Tables Billy Bishop Takeover Bill Amid Fierce Opposition From Toronto’s Mayor

Ontario’s Ford government has taken a decisive step toward seizing control of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, introducing sweeping legislation Thursday that would hand the province authority over the waterfront hub and a chunk of the beloved parkland surrounding it over the loud objections of the city’s mayor.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria tabled the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act at Queen’s Park, a bill that would fundamentally reshape how the downtown island airport is governed. If passed, the legislation would allow Ontario to strip away roughly one-third of Little Norway Park along the waterfront and would permit the Ford government to step into the city’s role within the existing tripartite agreement that currently oversees airport operations.

“We’re very excited about this,” Sarkaria told reporters. “The economic potential of this, not just for the city, but the province and the country.”

Mayor Olivia Chow was having none of it.

Within minutes of the bill being tabled, Chow’s office fired back with a sharply-worded statement condemning the move as an overreach that strips the city of its voice over its own land.

“Unilaterally taking City land is not acceptable,” she said. “The province is about to uproot a complete community, take our land, and pave over Little Norway Park. That sends a signal to all Torontonians if the province wants to, they can take land, public space and parks to pave them without the City of Toronto having a say.”

Chow didn’t stop at words. She tabled a formal motion at city council opposing the legislation, and went further calling on the province to purchase the properties of affected residents and issue an apology.

Despite the drama at Queen’s Park, several critical details about the expansion remain conspicuously vague. Sarkaria was unable to tell reporters Thursday how long a new runway would need to be to handle jet aircraft, or precisely what the land taken from Little Norway Park would actually be used for. There is also no firm timeline for when construction would begin, though the government says it wants to move immediately.

The bill follows last month’s announcement that Billy Bishop would be designated a special economic zone a controversial designation that suspends certain rules and laws to accelerate development. That power flows from Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, which the Ford government rushed through the legislature last year. Under that framework, Ford and his cabinet can unilaterally declare special economic zones where environmental, provincial, and local regulations can be set aside to fast-track projects.

Premier Ford has brushed aside concerns about weakening environmental protections, insisting the government remains mindful of its environmental responsibilities even as it moves to suspend the rules that enforce them.

“We always focus on environmental issues,” Ford said previously. “We take all that into consideration. But we can’t just sit back.”

Ford also claimed Ottawa is on board, saying the federal government is supportive of the airport’s expansion plans.

The battle over Billy Bishop now sets up a sharp confrontation between Queen’s Park and Toronto City Hall, with the waterfront and the public green space beside it squarely at the centre of the fight.