Olivia Chow Fights Ontario's Billy Bishop Airport Grab

0:00Toronto's Mayor Olivia Chao is firing back at the Ontario government's move to grab control of Billy Bishop Airport, including a chunk of beloved, Little Norway Park. The province just dropped a bill called the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act 2026, aiming to extend the runway for bigger jets and snatch city-owned lands right there on the island. This sets up a showdown over a tripartite deal between the city, Toronto Port Authority and Feds. If it passes, Ontario takes the wheel, expropriating about one-third of the two-and-a-half hectare park at Bathurst and Queens Quay West, plus seven. Other spots nearby. Locals in Chao hit the park Friday, chanting against turning green space into pavement, what she calls a straight-up power grab. The spot honors a World War II Norwegian Air Force Base from back in 1986, and folks see it as their community's hard bean. Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Pradmeet Zakaria insists the park stays put during modernization,

1:02with surveys coming soon to sort exact needs. He blames the city for short leases and past talk of ditching the airport altogether, saying it's key for billions in investment and more flights for. Ontario. City Council back Chao's motion to loop in Ottawa for clarity and any legal pushback, but Feds haven't weighed in yet. This airport tussle is just. Heating up. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Canada News today. AI-powered local news.