Item - 2026.PH31.5
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on June 11, 2026. The Planning and Housing Committee postponed consideration of this item. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the deferral.
- See also PH32.7
PH31.5 - Billy Bishop Airport Proposed Expansion: Response to Council Request for Information on Housing and Transportation Impacts
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Deferred
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Deferred consideration of the item to the to the July 16, 2026 Planning and Housing Committee meeting and requested the City Manager to provide a supplementary report on the following:
a. The ownership structure and controlling interests of Nieuport Aviation, owner of the terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, including involvement of JP Morgan, and implications of foreign ownership of major transportation infrastructure;
b. The City of Toronto’s lobbying by-law and provisions around disclosure of details around parties that control or direct the activities of lobbyists’ activities; and
c. Impacts of the proposed airport and runway expansion on water quality in the Inner Harbour.
Origin
Summary
Beginning in March 2026, the Toronto Port Authority and Province of Ontario have made a series of announcements about a proposed expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA). These announcements, by way of press conferences and media interviews, have been issued outside of the established and governing Tripartite Agreement. As of the date of submitting this report, the City has not received any specific plans or details regarding the proposed expansion.
On May 28, 2026, the Province passed Bill 110, Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, 2026 (Bill 110) which enables the Province to assume the City’s role in the Tripartite Agreement and take ownership over certain City-owned lands in Bathurst Quay and the Toronto Islands. The Province has also proposed declaring BBTCA a Special Economic Zone to enable a land mass expansion to lengthen the existing runway, enabling jet aircraft, among other things. Designation as a Special Economic Zone would empower the Province to exempt the project from various municipal approvals. Both an extension and use of BBTCA for jets are currently prohibited without amending the Tripartite Agreement. The Federal Minister of Transportation, on May 28, 2026 indicated, via the media, that consultations will launch summer 2026 and feedback gathered through this process will play a role in guiding any future decisions on the Tripartite agreement.
This report reflects information and media reports to May 28, 2026. To date, City staff have not been consulted or been made aware of a comprehensive plan, business case, or rationale related to these announcements around the proposed expansion of the airport.
This report responds to the April 14, 2026 Planning and Housing Committee direction to study the prospective impact that expanding the flightpath to accommodate jets at Billy Bishop Airport would have on new housing supply (PH29.11) as well as the April 22-23, 2026 Council direction for staff to report back to on the current status of land-side transportation directions and matters related to BBTCA and the surrounding area (MM40.23). This report provides an analysis of indicative growth scenarios, identifies possible impacts of land takings and growth proposals and identifies areas that will need further study should proposals advance. Staff have prepared this analysis based on prior proposals, including the 2013 Porter Airlines proposal and the Toronto Port Authority’s own Environmental Assessment study in 2017 (the “2017 EA”) of the proposed introduction of jets and runway extension advanced by Porter in 2013. The Environmental Assessment provides a critical evidence base for evaluating future runway extension proposals. It demonstrated that, in a constrained, dense urban waterfront setting, even incremental proposals for aviation expansion can generate multi‑dimensional and interdependent impacts that extend beyond the airport boundary.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-287461.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213868.pdf
(June 9, 2026) E-mail from Ken Jackson (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213893.pdf
(June 10, 2026) Letter from Ed Hore, Chair, Waterfront for All (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213914.pdf
(June 10, 2026) Letter from Tanya Baksh, Director, Cliffcrest Scarborough Village SW Residents Association (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213948.pdf
(June 10, 2026) E-mail from Angela Barnes and Leslie Veszlenyi. Co-Chairs, Mimico Lakeshore Community Network (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213919.pdf
(June 10, 2026) Letter from Cameron Ley,South Etobicoke Community Association (SECA) o/a New Toronto Initiative (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213988.pdf
(June 11, 2026) Letter from Geoff Kettel, Co-Chair, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (FoNTRA) (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-213992.pdf
(June 11, 2026) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (PH.New)
(June 11, 2026) Letter from Christine Mercado, Chair, Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-214005.pdf
(June 11, 2026) Letter from Mandavni Dhami, Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations (FMTA) (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-214021.pdf
Speakers
Diana Chan McNally
Councillor Amber Morley
Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik
Councillor Diane Saxe
Motions
That the Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Defer the item to the to the July 16, 2026 Planning and Housing Committee meeting and request the City Manager to provide a supplementary report on the following:
a. The ownership structure and controlling interests of Nieuport Aviation, owner of the terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, including involvement of JP Morgan, and implications of foreign ownership of major transportation infrastructure;
b. The City of Toronto’s lobbying by-law and provisions around disclosure of details around parties that control or direct the activities of lobbyists’ activities; and
c. Impacts of the proposed airport and runway expansion on water quality in the Inner Harbour.