July 24, 2026 Hon. Steven MacKinnon, P.C., M.P. Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Government of Canada House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Re: Modernizing Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Dear Minister MacKinnon,
As part of the Government of Canada's consultation on the future of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop), we are writing to share the perspective of Ontario’s business community on the airport’s strategic importance and the opportunity to position it for long-term success. Billy Bishop is a strategic transportation asset within our broader aviation ecosystem, serving Canada’s largest financial centre. It plays an important role in regional and national connectivity, business travel, tourism, emergency medical transportation, and transborder commerce. With governments focused on strengthening Canada’s economic resilience and renewing critical infrastructure, this consultation arrives at a timely moment. Following the Government of Ontario’s recent decision to assume the City of Toronto’s responsibilities under the Tripartite Agreement governing the airport, there is now a meaningful opportunity to establish a governance model that better reflects the airport’s strategic role within Canada’s transportation network. As a signatory with responsibility for aviation and interprovincial transportation, the Government of Canada has an important leadership role in advancing this modernization. This governance review should be viewed as a necessary precursor to future decisions regarding the airport’s operations, infrastructure, and long-term development. Established more than four decades ago, the Tripartite Agreement no longer reflects the realities of modern aviation, evolving technologies, or Canada’s transportation priorities. It slows decision-making, limits operational flexibility, and creates uncertainty for long-term planning and investment. A renewed framework would provide governments, airport operators, and communities with the flexibility needed to evaluate future decisions while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public confidence.
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