Sandford Borins on the lessons from 1972 (Pickering vs Pearson) for 2026 (Billy Bishop vs Pearson)

Recommending Sandford Borins' excellent blog post on the lessons for us today from the Pickering Airport debate and analysis in the 1970s:

In 1972, it was clearly understood that air traffic in Toronto was increasing, and it would be accommodated at either Pearson or Pickering. Both were seen as having a regional economic impact, in that Pearson would contribute to growth on the west side of Toronto, while establishing an airport at Pickering would shift some growth to the east of the city. Overall economic activity in the GTA would be the same whether Pearson was expanded or a new airport built at Pickering. This is different from the Toronto Port Authority and Ford Government refusing to acknowledge that, if Billy Bishop is not expanded, traffic will be accommodated at Pearson, and overall economic activity will be the same.

Click here to read "We Were Much Smarter 50 Years Ago"

Recording now posted for Speaker Series 24 - The Costs of Uncertainty

We have posted the recording of our June 24th Speaker Series #24

The Costs of Uncertainty: Jet Expansion at Billy Bishop Toronto Centre Airport 

Video Recording: 

https://youtu.be/CeWe6-N3lqs?si=vr1ckUqu4bnQlF5P

Featuring:

Ken Greenberg, Urban Designer, Member of the Order of Canada. Ken's speaker notes.

Ed Hore, Chair, Waterfront for All 

Ron Jenkins, Board Secretary, Waterfront for All. Ron's deck.

Edward Nixon, Director Eastern Waterfront, Waterfront for All

And special guest, Paul Bedford, former Chief Planner for the City of Toronto 

We've just launched our new newsletter!

Waterfront for All - Waterfront Update June 2026 - Click here to Sign Up as a Member today
by donating $20 or more annually to get our newsletter.

Here are some highlights: 

“Reality Check” by Prominent Torontonians

Ken Greenberg, Margaret Atwood, former Ontario Premier Bob Rae, David Mirvish, former Mayors David Crombie and Art Eggleton, and other notable Torontonians are delivering a Reality Check to federal Liberal MPs. [https://torealitycheck.ca/]

This web site also includes a substantial report on the proposed BBTCA runway expansion [https://torealitycheck.ca/full-report.pdf] as well as a report summary: [https://torealitycheck.ca/executive-summary.pdf].

________________________

Scarborough Bluffs West Project

The Scarborough Bluffs West Project is major initiative from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto on a key section of our waterfront. It follows the Scarborough Waterfront Project on the eastern section of the Bluffs (from Bluffers Beach to East Point Park), that is currently in its implementation phase. 

The Scarborough Bluffs West Project Environmental Assent will explore enhancing and protecting the sensitive shoreline and the Bluffs from erosion, as well as opportunities for improved waterfront experience and trail access between the Eastern Beaches (Silver Birch Avenue) and Bluffer’s Park along Lake Ontario.

Visit the link for detailed consultation materials and to complete a survey on the project (deadline: June 30 2026).

HERE IS THE LINK TO HAVE YOUR SAY: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-consultations/infrastructure-projects/scarborough-bluffs-west-revitalization/

.../2