The Doug Ford government is now rethinking its support for a high-speed rail project after the federal government ruled out expanding Billy Bishop Airport, a source has told CTV News. The multi-billion-dollar Alto project would connect Quebec City to Toronto and promises to cut travel times between those cities in half. The Toronto Star first reported the news. Earlier this year, Ford and Prime Minister Carney signed the “Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build” agreement, which includes both governments committing to support the planning and advancement of Alto. During a news conference in London, Ont., on Tuesday afternoon, Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria vowed to continue pushing for the expansion of the airport despite the federal government’s decision. Last Friday, the Carney government halted plans over a potential expansion of the island airport, with Transport Minister Steven McKinnon saying that upgrades would be limited to approved safety enhancements already underway and would not include the extension of the runway. Sarkaria said he was “disappointed” with the federal government’s announcement. “We have seen the federal government listen to a small fringe group in Toronto,” he said. “We as the province will continue to push forward on a modernization of this airport because it is the right thing to do.” Chow asking for the provincial government to return the lands Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, meanwhile, is now calling for the provincial government to repeal Bill 110, the legislation giving it control over a portion of Toronto’s waterfront lands. Chow wants Ontario to return the land to the city, which includes several parkland areas, the island itself, and the surrounding island shoreline near Hanlan’s Point. “If the answer is no, why do you want a local park and local beaches? Like it’s always belonged to the City of Toronto,” Chow said in an interview with CTV News Toronto on Tuesday. “We’re hoping the provincial government will return the land back into the city’s hands.” On Monday, Chow introduced an urgent motion to City Council appealing to the province. Chow noted that the city is looking to continue fixing eroding beaches that are near the area initially slated for development. “We have the Hanlan’s Point Beach. There’s several beaches on the Toronto Islands. We’re about to spend a bit of money because it’s been eroding,” she said. When asked if the provincial government has any plans to repeal legislation granting it authority over Toronto’s waterfront, Sarkaria said it has “no intention” to do so. Sarkaria added that the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport “makes sense from an economic perspective as well as preparing its future not just for the next four years but for the next 20, 30, 50 years.” “As I have said, we fully support the modernization plan put forward by the Toronto Port Authority,” he said. “We urge the federal government to continue to consider that proposal because it is a proposal that makes sense for people that want to travel through air and have different options and it is also about building big projects.” Chow has since launched a petition asking residents to petition the province to return the land to the city of Toronto. “The Ford government has always said that if you expand the island airport, it can bring in billions of dollars each year into the economy. How do you respond to that? I can’t see how that would work. I would love to see a business plan, a business case,” Chow said.
