In April 2023, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announced a study on aviation capacity. This continued the tradition of using independent advisors to ensure good governance of Canada’s airports and prevent influence from business interests, regional competition, and corruption. However, recent events suggest a serious issue has arisen.
The introduction of the announcement of the study says it all:
“Southern Ontario is Canada’s most populous area, with the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) alone home to over 6.3 million Canadians. Ontario’s population is also expected to grow significantly over the next two decades. This is why the Government of Canada needs to assess the requirement for additional airport capacity in the region.”
This study was expected to be the final aviation capacity analysis, providing information for a decision on developing the new Pickering Airport. The project involves a utility airport and industrial park on 8700 acres of federal land, using private funding to create 60,000 jobs and generate $12 billion in annual economic activity. It is part of Durham Region’s development plan, with up to $100 million already invested in water and sewer infrastructure.
In January 2025, unexpectedly, the new Minister of Transport, Anita Anand, announced her intention to cancel the Pickering Airport project. Reporters assumed that the capacity study backed this decision and asked when the study would be made public. The Minister declined to respond to these inquiries.
I submitted a request for access to information to obtain the study. The response I received was both unexpected and concerning.
“A thorough search of records under the control of Transport Canada was conducted and no records were found pertaining to your request, as there was no report produced from the tender.”
The highly anticipated 2023 study had vanished without a trace.
I subsequently contacted Transport Canada Media inquiries with several questions including:
Why was the report not completed?
Was a consultant hired, but then unable to complete the study?
Was the consultant paid? If so, how much?
Was a different tender/study undertaken?
Was the tender cancelled? If so, when?
To these questions, I received this reply:
“Hello Marc,
The Pickering Lands Site is a strategic federal asset and the Government of Canada has decided that a new airport is not the best use for these lands.
As Canada’s air transport sector continues to evolve, the airports serving Southern Ontario region will continue to fulfill their role and the Government of Canada will continue to assess possible approaches to address capacity issues as they arrive
Regards,
Hicham Ayoun
Senior Communications Advisor, Media Services, Transport Canada”
In January, when a CBC reporter asked the transport minister, Anita Anand, about the report, did she know it did not exist? If so then why did she not tell us instead of declining to respond?
No one wants to take responsibility for what seems to be a breach of good governance.
Has the new Transport Minister, the Honourable Christina Freeland, been notified that no report was produced and, as a result, the promise to cancel Pickering Airport could not be supported?
Has the minister been informed that all prior federally commissioned studies say a Pickering airport will be needed?
Inconvenient facts cannot be made to vanish.
This land was expropriated from private owners specifically for the purpose of building an airport and is valued at billions of dollars. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is one of the fastest-growing regions in North America. It is expected to grow to over 10 million people (>+40%) by 2051. The GTA generates 50% of Ontario’s GDP and 20% of Canada’s GDP.
This incredible growth will drive the need for additional airport capacity to serve both the public and the business sector needs.
The missing study raises an important question about the reasons behind the promise to cancel Pickering Airport. In our region’s current context, what could be a more suitable use for the Pickering lands than creating 60,000 jobs, generating $12 Billion in annual economic activity and $800 million in Tax revenue?
Globally, one-third of all trade by value moves by air. Canada is facing significant trade tariffs from its largest trading partner. Pickering Airport was intended to play an important role in diversifying Canadian trade between regions and internationally.
The Federal promise to cancel Pickering Airport calls for greater transparency.
Specifically, what are the benefits (hard and soft)? What is the Greater Good this cancellation delivers that exceeds the creation of thousands of new jobs and the economic impacts in a rapidly growing GTA?
And to whom do those new benefits accrue – the broader Public or local special interests?
What reasons might there be for considering the cancellation of this airport? The cost of neglecting good governance now will be unbearable for generations.
Related posts:
Final Pickering Airport Capacity Study Airborne Again! – Friends of Pickering Airport
Why stop Pickering Airports development now? – Friends of Pickering Airport
Development plan with new Airport Wins vote 20 to 6 at Durham Region – Friends of Pickering Airport
What is Pickering Airport’s Employment Zone? – Friends of Pickering Airport
Airports and the Global Economy – Friends of Pickering Airport
Hi Mark.
You use the word CAPACITY. So do the reports past and recent.
Please define the term. As in what is the past, present and projected CAPICITY of a Toronto intl. What is the current growth rate as evidenced by the past 25 year. What is yore projected date for limit from the numbers.
It is clear that TC does not agree with your written conclusions above.
Show us all.
It seems gtaa agree with your written conclusions based on their gate build numbers.
They projected 60 terminal gates by 2037 in their master plan of 2017. None have been built to date. Recently they have revised to 40 . Again none to date they are still at the 90 they had in 2017.
How many do you project and when might they start? There is much talk, talk.. concepts but no plans .
Gtaa AGM is due May 7. Agenda and announcement due April 7. Will you attend and ask the questions?…. With me?
I use the word capacity, not for a specific part of an airport ( such as a runway) but in the same sense all airport planners use. Total , utility, passenger and cargo aircraft capacity in instrument flight conditions with perfect equipment and staffing and no traffic jams in or outside the airport. This is not achievable as nothing is every perfect but it is a goal.
As to appearing to question the GTAA, don’t think this is a good idea. Since I posted the FOI on the missing capacity report I have had a number of responses from pilots as to what they think happened ( what is it with pilots and conspiracy theories?). Best I keep a low profile given my employment status.