Toronto City Councillor Olivia Chow filed an urgent motion with the municipal council on July 27, 2026, seeking the return of land on the Toronto Islands that had been allocated to the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport agreement. The motion calls on the Ontario provincial government to transfer the island parcels back to the city and to restore Toronto’s role in the airport partnership.
The request follows a recent decision by the Canadian federal government to block the planned expansion of the Billy Bishop airport. The expansion would have required additional land on the islands, prompting the federal halt and raising questions about the future of the airport’s development.
In her filing, Councillor Chow emphasized the need for the province to act promptly to recover the island property and to re‑establish the city’s involvement in any future airport arrangements. The motion frames the province’s return of the land as essential for preserving municipal authority over the islands and for ensuring that the city can participate fully in any subsequent airport planning.
The provincial government has not yet responded to the motion, and discussions are expected to continue as the city, the province, and the federal authorities negotiate the next steps for the airport. The federal block on the expansion adds pressure on all levels of government to clarify the status of the island land and to outline a new approach to the airport’s operations.
Toronto City Council will consider the motion in an upcoming session, with councillors set to debate the implications for the airport, the island community, and the city’s broader transportation strategy. The outcome could shape how the airport functions and how the island land is managed in the years ahead.