Recent talks between Buttonville Airport’s president and York Region could keep the airstrip operational through regional support.
In April, the airport lost $1.6 million in annual funding from Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA). Lloyd Russell, commissioner of finance for York Region, said the region’s previous funding agreement, worth roughly $330,000 annually, was tied to the GTAA agreement.
“Quite frankly, the amount of money we’re talking about was pretty small to support a $96 million economic generator,” said Toronto Airways president Derek Sifton of the family-owned airport.
With development plans for the site, the money will keep the airport open while the region transitions air traffic to an alternative facility, Sifton said. The Town of Markham recently passed a resolution asking that the region restore funding to the airport.
There was some concern over using tax dollars to fund the privately owned airport, Russell said. “At the same time, I’d say there was a reasonable amount of recognition of the value to the region,” he said.
Russell said that the formation of a subcommittee to examine the matter would likely be the next step.