Peter Tabuns

NDP: FORD’S BILLY BISHOP EXPANSION IS ALL FOR WALL STREET

QUEEN’S PARK — Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition, has released the following statement in response to reporting by the Toronto Star that revealed a company closely connected to American corporate investment firm JP Morgan is behind the push to expand Billy Bishop Airport:

“Does Doug Ford work for the people or does he work for Wall Street,” said Stiles. “Nobody wants this project, and now we know that the only winner here is an American investment bank.

“While we have been fighting to scrap the tax on food and put money back in people’s pockets, Doug Ford has been busy trying to destroy Toronto’s waterfront to make money for investment bankers.

“Prime Minister Mark Carney can put an end to Doug Ford’s chaos. This project does not move forward unless the Prime Minister rubber stamps it. Prime Minister, you have the opportunity to stand up for Canadians against American interests. Canada and our waterfront are not for sale.”

“Captain Canada has betrayed the people of Ontario,” added MPP Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York). “Doug Ford ran on a promise of protecting our province from Donald Trump and threats from the United States, only to immediately sell Ontario out to American corporations behind closed doors.

“Our sovereignty has repeatedly been threatened by the United States, but that apparently won’t stop the Premier from allowing this American investment bank to destroy our waterfront, with jets landing every two and a half minutes. Prime Minister Carney and his Toronto MPs need to finally take a stand, and stop the Premier’s reckless expansion.”

Chris Glover Marit Stiles NoJetsTO Waterfront for All
Alexa Gilmour Jessica Bell Kristyn Wong-Tam Tom Rakocevic

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.”

Chris Glover Marit Stiles Kristyn Wong-Tam Alexa Gilmour Jessica Bell NoJetsTO Waterfront for All

NDP: $5 BILLION BILLY BISHOP PLAN DOESN’T ADD UP

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York) and Shadow Finance Minister Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) say that committee hearings on Doug Ford’s plan to expand Billy Bishop Airport have shown the senseless nature of the Conservatives’ latest scheme:

“There is no business case to expand Billy Bishop,” said Glover. “The Minister of Transportation — despite being asked repeatedly — is still unable to explain why he believes this would generate $8.5 billion in economic revenue. The only thing it’s sure to generate is more traffic congestion downtown.

“The Toronto Port Authority revealed that it would cost $5 billion to expand Billy Bishop airport to accommodate eight million more passengers. This is a complete waste of money when Pearson is currently investing $3 billion to accommodate an additional 23 million passengers.

"Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Toronto MPs have tried to take a backseat on this issue, but they can’t sit on the fence any longer. The people of Toronto deserve to know where they stand. The Federal Liberals must listen to their constituents, who are loudly rejecting this move, and kill the Premier’s asinine plan that would destroy the waterfront Torontonians love and waste five billion taxpayer dollars.”

“Doug Ford’s plan for Billy Bishop makes no financial sense,” said Bell. “The Toronto Port Authority confirmed in yesterday’s hearings that this project could cost up to $5 billion. The airport expansion is likely not economically viable without a massive government handout.

“We also learned that both the Ford and the Carney governments are in secret closed-door conversations with the Port Authority over the Billy Bishop airport expansion, and the rest of us are in the dark, including the City of Toronto. Toronto residents don't want this airport expansion, and the people in charge know it. That's why they're not telling us about what's in store for us.”

Jessica Bell Chris Glover NoJetsTO Waterfront for All Alexa Gilmour Kristyn Wong-Tam Sol Mamakwa