Ontario Premier Doug Ford has expressed his full support for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposal to have private investors manage operations at Canada’s largest airports, including Toronto Pearson. Ford commended the idea as “excellent” and advocated for its extension to include Toronto’s island airport.
Ford has persistently lobbied for the expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to accommodate jets, despite the federal government’s rejection of the plan. He believes that privatizing the island airport, which is “shovel ready,” would bring substantial economic benefits.
During an unrelated news conference, Ford praised the Prime Minister’s initiative, stating, “The PM is on fire, he’s moving. He’s privatizing airports that should’ve been done years ago.”
Prime Minister Carney clarified that the government would retain ownership of the land and assets under his airport privatization proposal. He emphasized that the goal is to restructure airport operations, with revenues being reinvested into regional airports.
However, opposition party leaders have criticized Ford’s endorsement of the privatization plan. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles raised concerns about the potential impact on travelers and airport workers, emphasizing the importance of public spaces accessible to all families in the city.
Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner echoed these sentiments, urging Ford to prioritize investments that benefit the general populace rather than enriching the wealthy. Schreiner emphasized the need for job creation and cautioned that privatized airports could lead to increased air travel costs.