YQNA – York Quay Neighbourhood Association

Town Halls Debate Jets

by YQNA April 17, 2026

Doubts are growing about Premier Doug Ford’s takeover of the Island Airport to fly jet planes through the Waterfront. The news is raising issues that remain unanswered — about noise, pollution, congestion, spoiling the city’s main recreational area, and the danger of accidents and jets flying near condo towers.

Ford has not offered a plausible business model or actual plans for expanding the airport at this writing. In search of information, town halls are now offered by three levels of government.

Our MP Chi Nguyen invites to:

Waterfront Townhall (virtual): April 28, 2026
Register here on Zoom
General Townhall (in person): May 20, 2026 (Location TBD)
Register here on Eventbrite

Our MPP Chris Glover and City Councillor Ausma Malik host this town hall:

Monday, April 20, 2026 at 7 pm at East Bayfront Community Centre (261 Queens Quay E)

To prepare you for these town halls, here is recent information:

A short CBC News documentary about ultrafine particle pollution on the Waterfront (click image):

Also Councillor Josh Matlow’s talk to the Planning and Housing Committee at City Hall (click image for Facebook video):

We just learned that the Province bought a personal jet plane for Doug Ford to ease his travels. Could there be a connection somewhere?

April 17, 2026 0 comments

YQNA Gets Award

by YQNA April 9, 2026

The City recently handed out awards to volunteers in Ward 10, emceed by our Councillor Ausma Malik with praise and plaques. YQNA was nominated by many friends and agencies for our 23 years of work, done by hundreds of volunteers. We were named a “Hall of Honour 2026” winner. It was gratifying to see so many young people getting awards for volunteering in all areas of life. See more on Malik’s Instagram page.

One More Minute

How does Toronto see its future? Chief Planner Jason Thorne presented his vision in March to roughly 100 people at a public YQNA meeting at the Radisson Blu hotel. Also: the Island Airport jets proposal sparked much debate during a presentation by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, and Waterfront Toronto presented its SeaBus pilot project. Read the new Minutes by volunteer Didi Wu and see her video on YouTube.

Jet Opposition Gathering Speed

Solid opposition is growing to Premier Doug Ford’s delusional jet airport on the Waterfront. City Council overwhelmingly voted it down, legal actions are underway to stop it, and the media has slammed Ford’s takeover of Billy Bishop City Airport. There is much more to come, but for now we offer this:

Waterfront for All held a brilliant meeting on the jets proposal.
Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association offers 4 good reasons to oppose jets.
Visit NoJetsTO to sign their petition — also see their YouTube and Instagram pages.
MP Chi Nguyen will hold an online “Harbourfront Waterfront Town Hall meeting” on April 28 at 7pm. Register here.
Councillor Josh Matlow has asked City staff to analyze the effect of jets on housing supply.
Councillor Paula Fletcher and MPP Peter Tabuns co-hosted an emergency town hall to oppose jets.
The Federation of South Toronto Residents’ Associations (FoSTRA) demands that Toronto have a say in Island Airport decisions.
Media opposition includes op-eds from Alex Bozikovic and Matt Elliott as well as pushback from John Lorinc. The Star says jets could reduce housing on the Waterfront and cause noise issues.

Feds Support Harbourfront Centre

Culture Minister Marc Miller has announced over $40 million in federal funding over five years for Harbourfront Centre — including $6.5 million annually for programming and $10 million in time-limited funding over two years for capital repairs. The support was anticipated but “reinforces confidence in our mission,” says Chief Operations Officer Massimo DeMaria. Repairs to Amsterdam Bridge are also underway and should be done by June.

Waterfront East LRT Gets $3B

The Waterfront East LRT is a go! City, provincial and federal governments have each committed $1 billion to the transit line set to run south from Union Station on Bay St. and east along Queen’s Quay to Ookwemin Minising. The City and Waterfront Toronto have been working on this for two years. Mayor Olivia Chow calls it “the critical missing piece needed to unlock the eastern waterfront.”

April 9, 2026 0 comments

Island Airport

No Jets Downtown

by YQNA March 18, 2026

Picture the scene: sailboats in the harbour, kids romping in the parks, happy crowds on ferries to the Islands. This is Toronto’s Waterfront, a jewel and economic driver that’s shared with 18 million visitors per year.

It took many years to build, and now Premier Doug Ford wants to upend it all. He demands to fly jets from the Island Airport by expropriating the City’s land. That would extend runways at least 200 metres in each direction, challenge our health with pollution, and threaten the safety of small boats with jet blasts. Ford offers no plans for any of this, but it is estimated to cost roughly $1 billion.

YQNA was opposed to jets flying over the Waterfront ten years ago, and we oppose them today. Our losses would be much greater now after more talent and money have been invested in this amazing urban renewal, which has won many international awards. It is home to tens of thousands of people, and businesses of all kinds are thriving here. We will not be involved in a NIMBY fight, because the Waterfront belongs to the city and people coming here from the entire GTA.

It is no secret that this airport has been struggling financially, with flights down by 30% since COVID, and Porter Airlines having moved most of its business to Pearson International Airport. Much of the convenience of having an airport downtown was lost when the UP Express to Pearson opened. It’s hard to make financial sense of what appears like an attempt to save this airport, no matter what damage it would do to Toronto. Two things are certain: the revenue that the Waterfront generates for the City far exceeds any value coming from the Island Airport. And if jets were allowed, it would change life as we know it on the Waterfront.

What can you do to save our Waterfront?

Join NoJetsTO to help them eliminate jets once more, https://www.nojetsto.com
Write a letter and send it to Mayor Olivia Chow mayor_chow@toronto.ca, and Councillor Ausma Malik Councillor_Malik@toronto.ca
Also write MP Chi Nguyen chi.nguyen@parl.gc.ca and Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon TC.MinisterofTransport-MinistredesTransports.TC@tc.gc.ca

March 18, 2026 0 comments

development Island Airport meeting

See Our Meeting on YouTube

by YQNA March 13, 2026

Toronto has a new chief in the Planning Department who views Toronto through younger glasses — Jason Thorne. See his presentation on YouTube along with talks from all three levels of government, Waterfront Toronto, Harbourfront Centre and the Waterfront BIA. The new Island Airport jets proposal sparked much debate during a presentation by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik. The SeaBus pilot project was also presented. Chaired by YQNA Co-Chair Ed Hore and filmed by Tech Officer Didi Wu. See it on YouTube.

How Sweet It Is

Sugar Shack TO is a free, family-friendly winter event along Toronto’s Waterfront. On March 14 & 15, Harbourfront Centre will come alive with all things Canadiana including interactive activities, live entertainment, delicious comfort food, a warming station and of course tons of fresh maple taffy. General admission is free. Presented by Redpath. See more here.

March 13, 2026 0 comments

Jack Layton Ferry Terminal transit

Noisy Construction for Ferries

by YQNA January 30, 2026

Construction hours and noise levels will increase until spring in the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal construction zone, the City says. Residents might be affected as dock walls and piles are installed to secure new structures behind the Westin Harbour Castle hotel. Construction hours will be extended from 6am to 7pm, seven days a week, with overnight work occasionally required during the last few weeks. The goal (as the designers explained to YQNA) is to replace the City’s aging diesel-powered fleet with emissions-free electric ferries connecting us to the Islands. The work is purposely scheduled during a time of lower ferry usage to minimize disruptions in the upcoming spring and summer months. You can imagine, the current ferry schedule is reduced due to ice and going only to Ward’s Island — details here.

Waterfront Seabus Pilot

This summer people can catch a Seabus east and west along the Toronto Harbour. Waterfront Toronto has released a report showing different routes that future Seabus vessels might take, one with three stops between Ontario Place and Ookwemin Minising, the other reaching points around the Islands and the Outer Harbour Marina. This summer’s pilot will run in time for FIFA, using smaller craft rather than the envisioned 50- to 75- passenger boats. Read more at BlogTO.

Open Competition for Grand Mural

Harbourfront Centre is seeking designs for a new mural that will celebrate our city in time for FIFA and the summer season. Slated for a 60’ x 17’ wall on Queens Quay, it will showcase a vibrant Toronto and capture a spirit of joy and play. Artists can submit their designs before March 20, and a third-party muralist team will create the final image. The winning artist will receive $10,000. More here.

January 30, 2026 0 comments