Notes for a Deputation to Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee on December 10, 2024
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. As you consider the Next Phase of Waterfront Revitalization, I urge you to reflect on this:
Why would we sacrifice our city’s most valuable asset—a natural treasure that money cannot replace—for just 5% of Toronto’s air traffic, when a solution already exists at Pearson?
This isn’t just about reclaiming land—it’s about unlocking a bold vision for Toronto’s future. A vision that transforms the Island Airport lands into a world-class park, a vibrant community space, and an economic engine that benefits everyone.
Last week Waterfront for All presented the 15th edition of its Speaker Series – entitled Dare We Imagine the Island Without an Airport?
Speaker Marc Ryan, a founder of the landscape architect firm Public Space presented his firm’s thoughts on what could happen once the Airport closes.
This is, he said “A chance for Toronto to dream its own dreams”.
He emphasized how important it is for our city to dream about the future.
“You don’t often get a chance to add another 210 acre park to a City”.
Ryan’s presentation was based on the concepts his team generated for the story by Alex Bozikovic in the Globe last October titled Airport to Park: a bold vision for the Toronto Island.
In the article Ryan says “The islands are Toronto’s defining public space. Almost anything can happen there. The question is What do you want it to be?”
Bozikovic writes:
"The key point is that this is an enormous blank slate. Think of Rail Deck Park, the billion-dollar dream project of the John Tory era; it would have been 8.5 hectares. The airport is 10 times the size, not far away, and ready to be occupied."
"The opportunity here is to demonstrate that the city isn’t static,” Mr. Ryan argues. “The city can take action. It can regain parks and public realm from other infrastructure as the city grows and changes."
“It can. But will it?” Asks Bozikovic.
Why now?
It is by no means clear that PortsToronto can build any compliant RESA by 2027. We have requested that the federal government designate the RESA project for a federal impact Assessment, and yesterday learned that our request has been approved for consideration by the Impact Assessment Agency. We have asked that not building the necessary RESA be included as one of the alternatives to be considered.
We also know that business at the Airport is stagnant – it ceased growing in 2012 and has not recovered to anywhere close to pre COVID levels. Commercial flights are now almost half of their peak levels.
Notwithstanding the shoddy experience many have at Pearson, it offers far more choice, and now, with the UP Express is as convenient.
The economic benefits that PortsToronto has been emphasizing only make sense if it could demonstrate that people would forego travelling to Toronto if there was no Island Airport to land at.
Which is of course patently ridiculous.
All that passenger business would inevitably just shift to Pearson and so would the "economic benefits'" to Toronto's economy. Plus they’re based on predictions of business at the Airport that are far higher than what has actually appeared.
I looked in vain in your materials for today for any mention of the opportunity the potential development of the Airport lands presents. I did find some helpful words that should form part of your vision for our waterfront, and for those Airport lands that are such a significant part of them.
They’re from the KPMG 2021 review of WT in your background materials:
p. 7: Executive-level stakeholders from the three government partners emphasized the importance of Toronto’s waterfront as a “gateway to Canada” and a “generational opportunity” that is imperative to get right.
p. 10: At the same time, several government interviewees noted that the pace of revitalization could be accelerated and that there remained a need for a globally recognized destination like the Sydney Opera House or London’s Tate Modern to draw activity and interest to the waterfront.
The magnificently located Island Airport lands would be just ideal for that!
This opportunity is key to our city’s future, economy, and health. A city that prioritizes its natural landscape is a city that prioritizes its people, attracts the world, and ensures a prosperous, sustainable future for generations to come. This is a gift for everyone in the GTA.
Let’s seize this moment. Let’s get it right.
Brian Iler
Spokesperson for Parks not Planes
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