Internal polling by Ford government suggests strong support for expanding Billy Bishop Airport

“You know, we did a poll — 70 per cent of the people want that island airport expanded, simple as that. We’re listening to the people,” Ford told reporters Monday in New Tecumseth, northwest of Toronto.

The Campaign Research survey found 70 per cent of Ontarians favour a runway extension “to meet new federal safety regulations,” which would allow jets to land at the island, while only nine per cent opposed that and 21 per cent didn’t know.

In Toronto, 71 per cent of respondents backed the move, with 12 per cent against and 18 per cent who didn’t know.

In Halton and Peel regions, there was 74 per cent support with nine per cent opposed and 17 per cent unsure, while in York, Simcoe and Durham regions there was 68 per cent support, while six per cent were opposed and 25 per cent unsure.

When the pollster specifically asked “would you support or oppose the Billy Bishop Toronto City Island Airport runway being extended to also support larger aircraft that would allow for longer-distance flights to places such as Vancouver or the Caribbean,” 66 per cent of Ontarians were in favour and 15 per cent were opposed, with 19 per cent unsure.

Among Torontonians, that dropped to 62 per support with 22 per cent opposed and 16 per cent with no opinion.

In Halton and Peel, there was 73 per cent support with 12 per cent opposed and 14 per cent unsure, while in York, Simcoe and Durham there was 61 per cent support, with 14 per cent opposed and 25 per cent unsure.

Campaign Research surveyed 2,514 Ontarians Nov. 28-Dec. 2 using the Maru Blue online panel. While opt-in polls cannot be assigned a margin of error, for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have one of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The polling firm bored down further in a 58-page PowerPoint presentation, noting “in the past, Toronto city council has opposed expansions to the Island airport” and asked respondents “would you support or oppose the Ontario government and Premier Ford to step in and allow for the expansion of the runway?”

Across Ontario, 57 per cent supported the province’s intervention with 21 per cent opposed and 22 per cent unsure.

In Toronto, 55 per cent were in support of that with 27 per cent opposed and 18 per cent unsure.

Outside the city, in Halton and Peel, there was 63 per cent support with 15 per cent opposed and 22 per cent unsure, while in York, Simcoe and Durham there was 51 per cent support, 23 per cent opposed and 27 per cent unsure.

Asked “which characteristics do you most associate with the Billy Bishop Toronto City Island Airport,”

• 49 per cent of respondents said it was “convenient,”
• 36 per cent said “downtown in 10 minutes,”
• 27 per cent said it was “easy to use,”
• 20 per cent said “jobs,”
• 15 per cent said “affordable,”
• 13 per cent said “busy,”
• 12 per cent said “indifferent,”
• 10 per cent said “clean,”
• 10 per cent said “world-class city,”
• 9 per cent said “expensive,”
• 7 per cent said “noisy,”
• 6 per cent said “inaccessible,”
• 6 per cent said “pollution,”
• 4 per cent said “unnecessary,”
• 4 per cent said “green.”

When Campaign Research asked respondents what was “most important for you … when it comes to the future of Billy Bishop Toronto City Island Airport”

• 29 per cent said “lowering congestion at Pearson,”
• 28 per cent said “decreasing flight prices,”
• 26 per cent said “increasing travel options in the GTA,”
• 24 per cent said “creating jobs,”
• 23 per cent said “making life easier for thousands of people,”
• 11 per cent said “contributing to tourism,”
• 11 per cent said “Toronto becoming a major economic centre in the world,”
• 9 per cent said “lowering emissions,”
• 6 per cent said “increasing parkland on the Toronto islands,”
• 6 per cent said “decreasing noise in the downtown,”
• 10 per cent weren’t sure.

Finally, when the firm asked what was “least important for you … when it comes to the future of Billy Bishop Toronto City Island Airport,”

• 26 per cent said “decreasing noise in the downtown,”
• 21 per cent said “Toronto becoming a major economic centre in the world,”
• 19 per cent per cent said “increasing parkland on the Toronto islands,”
• 16 per cent said “contributing to tourism,”
• 14 per cent said “lowering emissions,”
• 13 per cent said “lowering congestion at Pearson,”
• 12 per cent said “decreasing flight prices,”
• 12 per cent said “increasing travel options in the GTA,”
• 10 per cent said “creating jobs,”
• 8 per cent said “making life easier for thousands of people,”
• 20 per cent weren’t sure.