Carney: Jets at Billy Bishop airport not ruled out 'forever'

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the possibility of allowing jets to land at Toronto's Billy Bishop airport has not been permanently dismissed, though it is not an immediate priority. The federal government recently rejected a proposal by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to expand the island airport to accommodate jets, a move Ford had framed as an economic booster.

“

Interesting has a quite wide range of meanings.

Carney described his earlier reaction to the idea as "interesting" but clarified that his government ultimately decided against it following a public consultation. The results of this consultation were "clear," he said, but he added that "forever is a long time," suggesting the door is not entirely closed for the future.

The land on which Billy Bishop Airport sits is managed under a tripartite agreement involving the city of Toronto, the federal government, and the Toronto Port Authority. Earlier this year, the province took over the city's role in this agreement.

“

forever is a long time.

Carney stressed that his government is developing a "comprehensive" approach to transportation, encompassing both large and regional airports, as well as rail infrastructure. He views Billy Bishop Airport as a minor component within this much larger transportation puzzle. Sources have suggested a potential handshake deal between Ford and Carney, where provincial support for high-speed rail was exchanged for federal backing of the airport expansion, though Carney denied ever promising to greenlight the project.

“

Billy Bishop is a small part of a much bigger puzzle, and we need to focus on those other puzzle pieces.