NDP: Doug Ford forces through his Toronto Island takeover

QUEEN’S PARK — Official Opposition Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, and Spadina—Fort York MPP Chris Glover blasted the Ford government for plowing ahead with its nonsensical Billy Bishop Airport expansion following the passage of Bill 110:

“This is shameful,” said Stiles.

“Nobody wants this project. While people struggle to make ends meet, Doug Ford is more focused on lighting tax dollars on fire with vanity projects that no one asked for.

“Doug Ford’s unhealthy obsession with downtown Toronto is costing the people of Ontario. While families up north wait for a doctor and risk their lives on unsafe highways, Ford is busy seizing the Toronto islands for his buddies to land luxury jets.”

“Doug Ford and Mark Carney are taking taxpayers for a ride. They’re costing Ontarians $900 per household for a completely unnecessary airport expansion,” said Glover.

“We know that there is no business case for this. The Minister of Transportation couldn’t provide any proof that this project even made sense at committee. With Pearson expanding to accommodate an additional 23 million passengers per year, a $5 billion expansion at Billy Bishop is completely unnecessary.

“This project does nothing for the people of Ontario, but it does deliver for corporations making windfall profits. Ontarians will lose the chance to build thousands of affordable housing units and risk the destruction of our waterfront and the Toronto Islands.

“The Premier has shown that he won’t listen to the people of Ontario. It’s up to the Prime Minister and his Toronto MPs to step in, and act upon the will of their constituents. Mark Carney has the power to stop the destruction of Toronto’s waterfront.”