Prime Minister Mark Carney is keeping the possibility of jets landing at Toronto’s island airport open but is currently focusing on a broader transportation strategy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had proposed expanding the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to accommodate jets, touting it as an economic boost.
The airport’s operations are governed by a tripartite agreement involving the city of Toronto, the federal government, and the Toronto Port Authority, which is a federal agency. Earlier this year, the province assumed the city’s role in the agreement. Despite rejecting Ford’s proposal after a public consultation that largely opposed jets, Carney suggests that the decision may not be final.
While maintaining the outcome of the consultation was clear, Carney acknowledges that future possibilities remain open. Reports indicate that Ford and Carney had informally discussed a deal where the province would back Carney’s high-speed rail initiative in exchange for federal support on the airport expansion. However, Carney denies ever promising to greenlight the airport project.