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Victory! Land Over Landings: Pickering Airport grounded!

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We’ve got good news: Ottawa has officially cancelled the proposed airport in Northern Pickering! After a 53 year campaign – what has been called the longest continuous protest movement in Canada’s history – this decision marks a victory for local communities and nature.

The fight began five decades ago with simultaneous federal and provincial announcements of a new airport and large satellite city to support it. 18,600 acres of farmland and hamlets in Pickering, Markham, and Uxbridge townships were expropriated, followed by the expropriation of 25,000 acres of rural land to the immediate south.

Mary Delaney, Land Over Landings past chair, was part of our Groundwork: Food + Land +Climate Series in 2021 which highlighted the interconnected issues facing our food and agriculture sector. She spoke to the issues and ongoing fight at that time and debuted their video: The Accidental Oasis.

We’re proud to have supported this fight as a signatory on this Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau in 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of the fight.

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The construction of the Pickering Airport would have meant bulldozing valuable ecosystems and destroying prime farmland. The noise and pollution from the airport would have had a lasting impact on the area’s wildlife and the health of surrounding communities.

Thankfully, after 53 years of citizen and community action, and support from all levels of government, these lands will now be reallocated. This is the direct result of all the hard work and advocacy of committed citizens, local groups, and organizations. This decision shows that when we work together, we can protect our rich natural ecosystems to safeguard the future.

Land Over Landings has been told that the “vast majority” of the lands will be transferred to Parks Canada, but the use of the remaining lands is still in question. It is essential that this land be kept to secure food and freshwater for Canada's largest urban region.

Read this 2018 Report to learn more - A Future for the Lands: Economic Impact of Remaining Pickering Federal Lands if Returned to Permanent Agriculture

"Why must north Pickering’s prime farmland be permanently protected? It is rare Class 1 farmland, crisscrossed by freshwater streams and natural habitat corridors. It is the kind of land that feeds us, body and soul."                                                                                                          - Land Over Landings

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