Ford's Airport Plan: Bypassing Rules, Igniting Controversy

0:00Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to declare Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport a special economic zone. This move uses legislation from last year called Bill 5 to bypass provincial and city rules. The goal is to extend the runway by hundreds of meters into Lake Ontario so the island airport can handle jets instead of just turboprops. Ford also plans to expropriate the city's stake in the airport to override Mayor Olivia Chow's opposition. He made the announcement Monday at an event in an airport hangar. The province says this will speed up approvals after talking with First Nations groups. Critics are slamming the plan as an anti-democratic power grab. First Nations leaders say they weren't consulted and have threatened protests. Opponents worry jets will bring more noise and disrupt parks, beaches, and waterfront life on the Toronto Islands. The city recently extended its agreement on the airport to 2045, adding safety buffers for the current turboprop flights by Porter.

1:00Airlines in Air Canada. Federal Transport Minister Stephen McKinnon says Ottawa is reviewing the jet proposal, but federal rules still apply. Ford insists the new jets will be quiet, though he hasn't shared plans for extra flights or passengers yet. With federal talks ongoing and pushback growing, this airport battle looks set to heat up. Stay informed with Toronto News Today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.