Pierre Poilievre wants runway at Toronto Island airport extended

Conservative management candidate Pierre Poilievre says he needs to see the runway on the Toronto Island airport expanded in order that jets can fly out and in of downtown Toronto.

In an announcement launched on Thursday, his marketing campaign stated if elected chief of the Conservatives after which to kind a federal authorities, Poilievre would “direct his transport minister to take away the gatekeepers and open the skies to competitors.”

The assertion stated they’d approval a future proposal for Billy Bishop airport to develop its runway, although a spokesperson for the airport stated they aren’t presently seeking to develop.

“Journey at Pearson is a multitude proper now,” Poilievre stated.

“There may have been far more flights out of Billy Bishop airport in downtown Toronto, that means extra competitors and extra alternative, however the dreadful gatekeepers wouldn’t let it occur. I’ll reverse Trudeau’s resolution to facet with them and permit jets to fly out and in of Billy Bishop airport to provide individuals again management of their lives.”

The assertion stated, “Toronto island residents and waterfront condominium house owners opposed enlargement” however the airport needed to develop.

In 2015, the federal authorities nixed a plan to develop the airport.

Any enlargement must be self-financed in order that taxpayers don’t foot the invoice, the Poilievre staff assertion added.

Poilievre’s marketing campaign stated that by increasing the runway and including jets, the airport may serve 4.8 million clients per yr, up from 2.8 million in 2019.

They claimed it might create 2,000 new jobs, $55 million in tax income and take stress off of Pearson Airport.

At present, solely Turboprop plane, which fly shorter distances, are in a position to fly out of Billy Bishop.

However in an announcement, Deborah Wilson, vp of public affairs and communications of PortsToronto, stated they “don’t have any plans presently to hunt to make modifications to the airport or its operations past making certain that our passengers have a optimistic and environment friendly journey expertise.”

“Any progress is inside the parameters of the Managed Development Technique that was put forth in our 2018 Grasp Plan,” Wilson stated.

“The final two years have been difficult, and as we emerge from the pandemic, Billy Bishop Airport is singularly targeted on restoration, customer support, and investing in enhancements that may make the airport cleaner, greener and quieter.”

The group NoJetsTO additionally posted a message to Twitter opposing Poilievre’s pledge.

“We are going to combat to avoid wasting our waterfront and our planet,” it stated partially.

In response, Polievre tweeted, “How is it good for the planet to pressure individuals who dwell downtown to drive to Pearson relatively than fly from the Island airport?”