Note: This article was updated March 24 to reflect Karen Stintz’s most recent comments on the expansion.
TORONTO – A possible expansion of Billy Bishop Airport will once again be up for debate at city hall next week.
The city’s executive committee will review a report on whether to extend the runway and allow jets to land at the island airport.
In deciding, councillors will have to weigh whether several considerations including whether the so-called “whisper jets” are quiet enough for the surrounding community and whether the expansion will facilitate economic growth.
But with a mayoralty campaign just getting started, a proposed expansion of the airport is sure to be a controversial election issue.
So where do the candidates stand?
Olivia Chow
She opposes expansion. In fact, Chow made her feelings known to the Toronto Star only 24 hours after Porter Airlines first proposed the expansion in April, 2013.
A campaign worker with the Chow campaign wrote in an email to Global News Tuesday that “people are comfortable with the island airport as it is” adding that the coming Union-Pearson express alleviates the need to expand services at Billy Bishop Airport.
Rob Ford
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The mayor has been one of the most vocal supporters of plans to increase the length of the runway and land jets at the island airport since it was first proposed.
When the issue was first deferred by councillors in December in favour of further study, Ford balked, saying the issue had been studied enough.
“I think we should go ahead with this island airport, we’ve consulted with the public enough. It’s time to move ahead,” he said at the time. “I don’t think we’re going to accomplish a lot so I will not be supporting the deferral and I support expansion of the island airport.”
John Tory
Tory was quoted in the Toronto Sun as “skeptical” of the proposed plans.
“I’m skeptical about the proposed expansion of the airport and how that would impact traffic congestion on our streets and in the air,” he said, according to The Sun.
Amanda Galbraith, a campaign spokesperson for Tory, wrote in an email that they “understand the report on the Billy Bishop Airport expansion will be coming out shortly, at which time we will comment.”
Karen Stintz
Stintz does support the expansion but with some conditions. She wrote in a statement released March 20 that her support for the expansion is contingent on several factors including whether it supports Toronto business, has a sustainable business case, creates jobs, won’t result in higher taxes and respects the surrounding neighbourhood.
Her new position is starkly different than her position soon after the expansion plan was announced in April, 2013. Tweeting soon after the announcement, she wrote: “I cannot support jets at Billy Bishop Airport, nor a lengthening of its runway.”
David Soknacki
Soknacki is a little unclear. He wrote in a Reddit AMA Monday that his support of expanding Billy Bishop Airport is contingent on three factors, more stringent emissions and noise regulations, compliance with federal safety standards, a council-approved plan for handling congestion in the Bathurst Street and Lakeshore Boulevard area.
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