After consulting residents, businesses and planning experts, I concluded that the PC Government’s fantasy project for the Toronto Islands and airport is a bad idea, with major risks and offering no clear benefits for Ontario.
I voted against it in the legislature in June because I don't trust the Premier and this PC government.
I oppose Ford’s Billy Bishop scheme because currently there is no coherent plan or business case for this massive taxpayer-funded expansion. The Premier is the only one in the tripartite agreement talking about jets. The Conservatives have not made a case for why downtown Toronto needs a massive expansion of Billy Bishop, or provided evidence of economic benefits.
The absence of a plan increases the risk that expansion will negatively affect residents of downtown Toronto and those along the proposed flight path. The uncertainty has already put a chill on housing development in the area that has been part of the revitalization plan for a thriving waterfront.
Finally, I don’t trust the Premier’s ability to make decisions in the people’s interest. His government has a troubling history of bulldozing democratic rights and grabbing power for vanity projects. People across Ontario, including rural and northern Ontario, are tired of being ignored on issues that matter to them.
I have a different vision. I believe the waterfront’s real economic value will only be realized through a thoughtful plan that balances recreation, tourism, businesses and housing alongside Billy Bishop Airport.
We deserve a plan that puts people and communities first, not vanity projects. Ontario deserves better.