Pearson's operator answers Oakville's Midtown airspace request with a staff meeting, not a commitment to seek new federal rules
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority acknowledged Oakville's October 9 request to ask Ottawa for airspace protection over Midtown and said staff will meet the Town. Its October 16 letter does not say whether it will make the request.
- Earlier in this file: Ottawa declined to cap Midtown tower heights using airport rules.
- The Town's contact for this meeting retires December 31: Oakville CAO Jane Clohecy to retire December 31.
The details
What happened
A Council Information Package posted on October 21 contains two new letters. In the first, dated October 9, Mayor Rob Burton writes on behalf of Council to the Chair and the President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Toronto Pearson. He asks the GTAA to request federal protection for the airspace over Midtown Oakville and to say whether it will make that request.
In the second, dated October 16, the GTAA's Executive Director of Stakeholder Relations and Community Impact thanks the Mayor, confirms receipt, and says Pearson depends on protected, predictable airspace to operate safely and shares Council's view that aviation safety must be considered as communities grow.
The GTAA says its staff will work to understand the issues raised, including what NAV CANADA has identified about the proposed development in Midtown Oakville, and that it will be in touch with Town CAO Jane Clohecy to arrange a staff-level meeting. The letter does not say whether the GTAA will make the request Council asked for, and it gives no date for the meeting.
What Council asked for
The Mayor's letter says NAV CANADA has advised that structures, including buildings and construction cranes, must not intrude into the airspace protected by its Minimum Vectoring Altitude, and that NAV CANADA has issued a formal objection to a high-rise proposal in Midtown Oakville (NAV CANADA file 25-5778).
Council's resolution asks the GTAA to formally seek a review and, where appropriate, an amendment of the Toronto/Lester B. Pearson International Airport Zoning Regulations (SOR/99-123), or another regulation under the Aeronautics Act, to give federal protection to the airspace NAV CANADA identified. The letter also asks for information on the process and timelines for amending an airport zoning regulation.
How the correspondence got here
- Minister of Transport replies to the Mayor: airport zoning regulations are Transport Canada's tool, and land use authorities should work with airports and NAV CANADA on high-density projects.
- The Mayor replies that he understands Transport Canada is not contemplating an airport zoning regulation for any part of Oakville, and asks to be corrected if that is wrong.
- The Minister writes that an amendment broadening the airspace protections would have to be formally requested by the airport authority, and that Transport Canada has not received such a request.
- The Mayor writes to the GTAA, on behalf of Council, asking it to request federal protection and to say whether it will.
- The GTAA acknowledges the request and says staff will arrange a staff-level meeting with the Town.
What happens next
Done: Council asks the GTAA
The Mayor's October 9 letter asks it to request federal airspace protection over Midtown.
Done: GTAA responds
October 16: acknowledges the request and proposes a staff-level meeting.
Now: Staff-level meeting
To be arranged by the GTAA with the Town's CAO; no date given.
Next: GTAA decision
Whether to formally ask Transport Canada to amend the airport zoning regulations has not been announced.
Sources
Town of Oakville
Council Information Packages, October 21, 2026
