Question Period Note: Pickering Lands

Pickering Lands

• In January 2025, the Government of Canada announced that the Pickering Lands, northeast of downtown Toronto, would not be used for a future airport site.

• The Government also announced its intent to transfer portions of the Pickering Lands with high conservation value to Parks Canada to expand the Rouge National Urban Park.

• Transport Canada, as custodian of the Land, is collaborating closely with Parks Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the Canada Lands Company, and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to assess options for the future land uses. To guide this work, we are engaging federal partners, provincial and municipal partners as well as local communities and the public for their feedback.

• A public consultation process was launched on March 2, 2026. Interested parties can provide their feedback and views on the potential future uses of the Pickering Lands through various means including an online survey, written submissions and public consultations.

• In parallel, Transport Canada has engaged in consultations with First Nations on potential future uses of the Pickering Lands.

In 1972, the Government of Canada acquired 75 km2 (18,600 acres) of land, known as the Pickering Lands, situated 56 kilometres northeast of downtown Toronto, for the purpose of developing a new airport. In 1975, this plan was put on hold in favour of expanding existing airports. Since then, properties on Pickering Lands have been leased by the Government to residential, farm and commercial tenants.

In 2015, Transport Canada transferred approximately 19.1 km2 (4,700 acres) of the Pickering Lands to Parks Canada for the creation of the Rouge National Urban Park. In 2017, Transport Canada transferred an additional 21 km2 (5,200 acres) to Parks Canada to further expand the park. Transport Canada had retained approximately 35 km2 (9,300 acres) for a potential future airport. As of March 2026, a total of 293 parcels are leased. Most of the Pickering Lands site is used for agriculture, but commercial uses and residential dwellings are also present.

Land uses by lease type are:

• 174 agricultural leases;
• 61 commercial leases/licenses (including cemeteries); and
• 58 residential leases.

On January 27, 2025, Transport Canada announced that “the Pickering Lands will not be used for a future airport site. The Government of Canada intends to transfer the high conservation value lands to Parks Canada.” The announcement also indicated that a formal consultation process would be undertaken to determine the path forward. As the custodian of the Pickering Lands, Transport Canada is working closely with Parks Canada, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, and the Canada Lands Company to assess options for the future uses of the lands, accounting for a range of priorities including conservation and potential residential and commercial development.

On March 2, 2026, Transport Canada launched a formal public consultation process to provide an opportunity for all interested parties, including members of the public and key stakeholders, to provide their feedback and views on the future uses of the Pickering Lands. This activity follows an initial engagement process with current residential, agricultural and commercial tenants, officials from federal, provincial and municipal departments and agencies, and local community interest groups that took place in summer and fall 2025. Separately, Transport Canada is engaged in consultation with First Nations and is committed to working with communities on the potential future uses of the Pickering Lands.

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