Billy Bishop Airport Expansion?

[TRONto]

Well, we know one business jet will have VIP access and apron space at YTZ.

Ontario buys used $28.9M private jet for Doug Ford: sources

A senior official confirmed that the province this week took possession of a 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 executive jet.

www.thestar.com

Paywall free: https://archive.is/nws21

Maybe this was always part of the plan, so the Premier can beat the weekend cottage traffic and fly his jet from YTZ to Muskoka Airport (YQA). The latter sees frequent business jet traffic.

I was going to post the same: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-private-jet-9.7167824

 

[Jonny5]

I was going to post the same: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-private-jet-9.7167824

And that's just the capital cost of the jet. How much are we spending on fuel and having a pilot on demand. Those things can cost $10,000 to operate a single flight.

That being said, the cynic in me says if there's an election and another party gets in power the response will be "well we already paid for it, so might as well keep it."

 

[Mihairokov]

That being said, the cynic in me says if there's an election and another party gets in power the response will be "well we already paid for it, so might as well keep it."

That cynic in you is why the Ford government thinks they can get away with shit like this. We need to be vigilant politically.

 

[txlseries4]

Liason has polling out (1000 Torontonians, April 12 to 13) that touched on Billy Bishop expansion

"Toronto is split right down the middle on bringing jets to Billy Bishop, with 49% opposed and 46% in favour. That divide isn’t random, it’s driven by geography and age. Downtown residents are firmly against it, while younger voters (18–34) lean the other way. And where the airport actually impacts people, opposition hardens."

"Support is also pretty soft. The minute you start talking about losing parkland or harbour access, majorities flip against expansion. But if you frame it around economic upside or more business destinations, support jumps back up into the high 50s and low 60s. In other words, people like the idea, until there’s a tradeoff."

"What’s not up for debate is process. Two-thirds of the city thinks Toronto needs a say before anything happens. Most voters won’t decide an election on this alone, but there’s more upside for candidates opposing expansion than supporting it. And with 72% saying this matters for the future of the waterfront, this isn’t going away anytime soon."

 

[TRONto]

Turns out it's a new plane for the province but Ontario had a plane before.
AI: Yes, the Province of Ontario has owned and operated Beechcraft King Air turboprop planes as part of its government fleet for transporting officials, including the Premier, the Lieutenant-Governor, and staff.

Key details regarding Ontario's King Air usage:
Government Fleet: Historically, the Ontario government owned two King Air turboprop planes.
Previous Usage: Premier Doug Ford noted in 2019 that he was the first premier to refuse to use the "premier's plane," the King Air, preferring to travel by road.
Upgrading the Fleet: As of April 2026, the province is moving away from the "range-limited" King Airs and has purchased a used $28.9-million Bombardier Challenger 650 jet to provide more flexibility and longer range for the premier's official travel.