Funding for Don River Flood Protection Will Unlock Potential of Toronto’s Port Lands

Waterfront for All, an umbrella organization for groups from across Toronto, welcomes the newly announced tri-level government funding for the Don River mouth naturalization.

“Today’s funding announcement will finally unlock the vast potential of Toronto’s Port Lands after decades of neglect,” Waterfront for All Chair Ed Hore said. “We are happy that all levels of government come together to renew this crucial piece of Toronto’s waterfront.”

The federal and provincial governments and the City of Toronto are committing almost $1.2 billion over the next seven years to flood-proof Toronto’s Port Lands and naturalize the mouth of the Don River.

“The joint funding for the Don River mouth project is the result of more than a quarter century of citizen-led advocacy”, Waterfront for All Vice-Chair Cindy Wilkey added. “With flood protection for the Port Lands in place, we can finally build the additional housing and green spaces our city so urgently needs. This development wouldn’t have been possible without community involvement and Waterfront Toronto’s leadership.”

The ten-year design process engaged thousands of residents, businesses, First Nations and community stakeholders throughout the region. Waterfront for All founding member CodeBlueTO mobilized residents across the city through public meetings and petitions. The naturalization project traces its roots to the 1992 report of the Royal Commission on the Future of Toronto’s Waterfront. Waterfront for All has been advocating for the flood-proofing measures since its inception in 2016.

“This exciting project will unlock opportunities for new housing, business centres and waterfront parklands – all within a short walk from downtown,” John Wilson, former chair of Bring Back the Don said. “As extreme weather and flooding becomes more frequent with climate change, flood-proofing the lower Don is more important than ever.”

About the Project

The proposed flood protection and naturalization of the Don River mouth elegantly combines beauty and function. About 30 hectares (75 acres) of natural habitat – wetlands, uplands and aquatic habitat – will be created, while 240 hectares (600 acres) of land will be removed from flood risk – including hundreds of homes and businesses in Toronto’s east end and a broad swath of underused land in the Port Lands.

About Waterfront for All

Waterfront for All (waterfrontforall.ca) is a recently founded umbrella organization for groups from across the city working together for a green, accessible and inclusive Toronto waterfront. Its 17 member organizations represent tens of thousands of citizens as well as waterfront businesses. Waterfront for All strives to be the voice of citizens in the ongoing push for waterfront renewal.

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

John Wilson, 416-432-2544, [email protected]

Tim Ehlich, 647-468-3641; [email protected]

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“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].

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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/

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Ed Hore comments on the jet proposal to Planning and Housing Committee, City Hall, June 11, 2026

City Staff submitted a report dated May 28, 2026 to the Planning and Housing Committee saying the latest jet proposal has huge implications for planning and housing in the fastest-growing areas of Toronto, yet the City has been given almost no information.

Ed Hore, Chair of WFA, commented at the June 11 Committee meeting that the Toronto Port Authorities' jet proposal is amateurish and vague, yet we know from TPA's long-secret Environmental Assessment of the 2013 - 2015 jets proposal that the effects on the waterfront will be huge. Toronto Port Authority never submitted detailed plans of that proposal to the regulator. Everyone had to guess at the effects for two and a half years. The federal government eventually realized the proposal was nonsense, and quashed it in 2015.

This time, the City should be the adult in the room; it must keep trying to determine the impacts of jets on the waterfront and the city. No other level of government seems to think the details matter.

Save the Date for "The Cost of Uncertainty - Jets at Billy Bishop" Speaker Series 24

Save the Date for Speaker Series 24 "The Costs of Uncertainty: BBCA Expansion Proposal" (you know that vague 'plan' for jets at YTZ!)

We are pleased to announce that Ken Greenberg will be joining us as a special guest speaker. Ken is an urban designer, teacher, writer, former Director of Urban Design and Architecture for the City of Toronto, Principal of Greenberg Consultants, and a Member of the Order of Canada.