What to know
- Toronto is offering free Island ferry rides in August for children, youth 19 and under, and adults 65 and older.
- The initiative follows the federal government’s decision to reject Ontario’s proposed expansion of Billy Bishop Airport, which faced opposition from waterfront advocates and some city officials.
- Mayor Olivia Chow called the free rides a way to thank residents who supported protecting the waterfront and make the Toronto Islands more accessible this summer.
The City of Toronto will be offering free Island ferry rides to children, youth, and seniors this August to celebrate the “waterfront victory,” after the federal government blocked Ontario’s plans to expand the Billy Bishop Airport.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced the free rides on Thursday, saying it’s a “small way to say thank you” to the Torontonians who voiced their opinions and celebrated the federal government’s decision to block the expansion.
“This is one small way we can say thank you, while making it easier for more families, young people and seniors to visit the Island and experience what makes it such a precious part of our city,” the mayor said in an Instagram post.
As part of the move, the “Child, Youth and Older Adult” round-trip ticket category for the Island ferries will be free throughout August. This category applies to children, teens 19 and under, and adults over 65 years old.
‘Celebrating the win’
The free tickets are part of a surprise “Celebrating the win: Free August ferry rides for kids and seniors” motion introduced by Coun. Ausma Malik and seconded by Chow on Thursday.
Both Chow and Malik joined a march at the waterfront on Sunday, as thousands of community members celebrated the federal government’s decision to not move forward with the Island airport expansion.
Last Friday, Canada’s Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon revealed that the federal government would not be supporting Ontario’s plan to expand the Billy Bishop Airport, after listening to public “feedback on a range of issues, including transportation, economics, environmental protection, noise, housing, and quality of life.”
It comes days after Federal Transportation Minister Steven MacKinnon said Ottawa will not support the province’s plans to expand Billy Bishop Airport that “infringe on treasured public spaces.”
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The message comes months after Premier Doug Ford took control of a portion of the waterfront, with plans to expand the airport to support larger planes in the island.
The move was heavily criticized by advocates, members of the public, and other politicians, including Chow, who thanked the federal government for stopping the project last week.
