Ontario to declare Toronto island airport a special economic zone
Written by The Canadian Press on March 23, 2026
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government is declaring Toronto’s island airport the province’s first special economic zone as it takes over land owned by the city.
This is the latest move by the Ford government to push expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to include jets.
Ford says the province will take over the City of Toronto’s spot in the tripartite agreement that governs the land.
That agreement is currently between the city, the federal government and the Toronto Port Authority, which is a federal agency.
Ford says he’s taking control from the city because of the so-called “lefties” on city council who do not want to modernize the airport.
Ford’s government passed Bill 5 last year, which included the controversial special economic zone provision that allows the province to suspend provincial and municipal laws for a given project.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2026.
Liam Casey and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press