Prime Minister Mark Carney is keeping his distance from a contentious plan to expand Toronto's Billy Bishop island airport, saying he has not yet decided whether he supports it and will wait for consultations before taking a position. His careful stance sets up a potential clash with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has been pushing hard to enlarge the waterfront airport and open it to jets.
Asked directly about the expansion at an announcement, Carney was unequivocal about his neutrality. He said that he personally had not formed an opinion on the airport, and that he wanted to be absolutely clear on that point. The comment was notable because Ford, when he unveiled his vision for the airport, had suggested the federal government was already on board with the project.
Ford's plan is ambitious and has moved quickly. The premier wants to expand Billy Bishop to allow jets to fly from it, and he has declared the site a special economic zone in order to fast-track the work. Last week, his government went a step further, passing legislation that takes over the city of Toronto's role in the airport, reshaping who controls its future.
Under that new arrangement, the airport would be governed by three partners: the province, the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority, a federal agency. That structure puts Ottawa squarely in the middle of the decision, and Carney acknowledged as much, noting that the federal government is very much an actor in what happens next at the airport.
The prime minister framed his hesitation around the breadth of concerns the project raises. He pointed to issues of transportation and economics, but also to the impact on neighbourhoods, quality of life, environmental concerns, parks and other elements, saying the federal consultation process would be used to weigh them. He added that details on that process would be coming soon, with residents to be heard over the summer.
Critics and officials have pressed for specifics that they say are still missing. Questions raised included what the business plan actually is, whether the airport would aim to reach 10 million passengers, how many flights it would handle, how long the runway would be and who would pay for what. Toronto's mayor said plainly that she had not seen any of the plans, even as the legislation advanced.
Some details have begun to emerge. The Toronto Port Authority previously told CBC News that the runway would be lengthened by an extra 600 metres, on top of an extension at each end that was already required, and supporters say the expansion would create thousands of jobs. Ford, meanwhile, sought to reassure residents on a related point, saying that despite the new powers he has no interest in taking over the Toronto Island itself, insisting he loves the island and would simply leave it alone.