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TORONTO \u2014 Toronto\u2019s waterfront secretariat says the province\u2019s plans to redevelop Ontario Place and expand the airport on the Toronto Islands will create severe traffic and transit congestion and could lead to degradation of the water quality in the harbour.<\/p>\n
The comments were made in a committee hearing Tuesday on the government\u2019s proposed legislation that would allow the province to take over the City of Toronto\u2019s role in Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.<\/p>\n
Premier Doug Ford is pushing for an expansion of the airport that would allow jets to land and take off with a goal to increase service to 10 million passengers per year, up from two million a year.<\/p>\n
The committee heard the province does not have a business plan nor has it conducted any health or environmental studies on its expansion plans.<\/p>\n
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says the airport expansion is a nation-building project that will boost the economy and provide more choice to passengers.<\/p>\n
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has called the move a land grab without consulting Torontonians.<\/p>\n
\u00a92026 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n