Proposed Pickering Airport Lands History

1972
Approximately 7,350 hectares of land, encompassing the municipalities of Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge, were expropriated by the Government of Canada at a cost of $120 million. The intent was to retain the lands for a potential international airport site for the greater Metropolitan Toronto region.

As a temporary measure, a Provincial Minister’s Order was enacted to partially restrict development around the Pickering Lands.

1975
Plans for a "Minimum International Airport" got underway; however, construction was halted in September due to the provincial government's withdrawal of support for essential off-site arrangements such as roads, water and sewer services.

The lands were placed under the administration of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) through an Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding with Transport Canada. An overall site management policy was established by Transport Canada.

1984 – 1994
On several occasions Transport Canada considered selling a portion of the federally-owned Pickering lands, but in each instance, the decision was deferred.

July 1994
Transport Canada announced a new National Airports Policy (NAP) which, for the first time, provided Canada with a comprehensive framework that clearly defined the federal government's role regarding airports.

Under the NAP, the federal government announced it would maintain its role as regulator and changed its role of airport owner and operator to that of landlord.

July 1998
Transport Minister David Collenette initiated regulatory action to protect the option of developing a potential, future airport on the Pickering Lands for a local entity.

November 1998
A decision was made to defer the declaration process to enable local governments and interest groups to be active participants in the development and implementation of alternatives to federal airport zoning regulations. A multi-stakeholder committee comprised of affected municipal, local interest groups, and Transport Canada, was formed to explore alternatives to federal airport zoning regulations, including the Alternative Bylaw Process.

March 2001
Minister Collenette announced that the federal government would protect federally owned portions of the Oak Ridges Moraine and areas around the Rouge Park as Green Space.

April 2001
Transport Minister David Collenette announced that an agreement had been reached between the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Toronto Airways Ltd. for the continued operation of Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. The agreement would allow capacity to be maximized, thereby delaying a decision to build a reliever airport on the Pickering Lands.

The Minister also announced that the department would proceed with the designation of the property as an airport site under the Aeronautics Act. This step represents prudent long term technical planning, and will protect the site for possible future aviation requirements.

August 2001
The Order declaring the Lands an airport site was signed on August 1, 2001 and appeared in the Canada Gazette, Part II on August 15, 2001.

December 2001
On the advice of their legal council, the municipalities abandoned the Alternative Bylaw Process for airport zoning.

April 2002
Transport Canada sent letters to the municipalities, advising them that Transport Canada was proceeding with the federal airport zoning regulation process.

May 2002
The Minister announced the Green Space Strategy for protection. The strategy is a three pronged approach: Continued federal ownership; Guiding Principles for future management and the formation of a Stewardship Advisory Committee to develop a master plan over the next twelve months.

October 2002
The Minister announced the membership of the Green Space Stewardship Advisory Committee.

June 2002 – February 2003
Transport Canada met on several occasions with Municipal Planners to discuss technical aspects of the draft Airport Zoning Regulations (AZR). Transport Canada also met with municipal council representatives from each municipality affected by the AZR to clarify the purpose and potential impact of the AZR. In addition, Transport Canada met with the Pickering Advisory Committee, the Regional Municipalities of York and Durham, and the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing to discuss AZR.

April 2003
The proposed Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations were submitted to the Special Committee of Council by the Minister of Transport, and, upon approval, were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on April 12, 2003, and April 19, 2003. Public notices appeared in local newpapers to inform interested persons of the publication of the Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations, and to invite public participation in a series of Open Houses hosted by Transport Canada between April 28 and May 31, 2003 in each affected municipality. Interested persons were invited to make written representations, postmarked between April 12, 2003 and June 11, 2003, concerning the proposed regulations. Information concerning AZR was also made available to the public through Transport Canada's website at

http://www.tc.gc.ca/OntarioRegion/pickering/azr/en/menu.htm.

Upcoming
After the public consultation period, public comments will be summarized in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement forwarded to the Minister. The AZR will be reviewed again by the Regulations Unit and the Minister will recommend the AZR to the Special Committee of Council for final approval. Once approved, the AZR will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II and will subsequently come into force.

(Reprinted from Transport Canada Web Site as Authorized for Non-Commercial Use)