The Government of Canada is currently seeking feedback on the potential future uses of the Pickering Lands following the announcement that these lands will not be used for a future airport site.
Background
In 1972, the Government of Canada acquired 75 km2 (18,600 acres) of land to develop a new airport northeast of Toronto in the municipalities of Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge, Ontario. The plans for a new airport were put on hold as other airports expanded in southern Ontario.
It was later determined that a smaller footprint was required for a potential future airport and Transport Canada transferred portions of the lands to Parks Canada to form part of Rouge National Urban Park in 2015 and 2017. Approximately 37 km2 (9,300 acres) remain with Transport Canada. The majority of these lands are currently leased for agricultural, residential, and commercial use.
In January 2025, the Government of Canada announced that the Pickering Lands will not be used for a future airport site. The Government also announced its intent to transfer lands with high conservation value to Parks Canada to expand Rouge National Urban Park.
Transport Canada, as custodian of the Pickering Lands, is working closely with Parks Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Canada Lands Company, and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to assess options for the future uses of the lands, accounting for a range of priorities including conservation and potential residential and commercial development. No decisions on the future uses of Pickering Lands have been made to date.
A decision by the Government of Canada on the future uses of the Pickering Lands will be informed by First Nations consultations, engagement with key stakeholders, public consultations and an analysis of potential land use options and priorities.
Who can participate?
We want to hear from everyone who is interested in the future of the Pickering Lands. This includes:
- current tenants
- residents of the City of Pickering and the nearby municipalities
- land developers
- business associations, and
- conservation and agricultural associations and groups
Transport Canada, in collaboration with other government departments, have started engaging with First Nations in parallel about the potential future uses of Pickering Lands.
How to participate
Read the Information Guide: Pickering Lands Future Uses Considerations. The Information Guide provides an overview of relevant information that may assist in providing your feedback by answering the online questionnaire or to provide feedback or comments by email or by written submission.
Submit feedback
- Fill out our anonymous online survey
- Submit feedback by email to Pickering@tc.gc.ca. Please use “Consultation – Future uses of the Pickering Lands” for the subject line
- Send your written submission to:
Attention: Consultation – Future uses of the Pickering Lands
Transport Canada
4900 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M2N 6A5
Participate in public consultation sessions
Public consultation sessions took place in person and virtually on March 11 and 12, 2026 at:
Pickering Glen Golf Club
230 Concession Road 7
Pickering, ON L1Y 1A2
| Session | Date | Time | Livestream links |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
March 11, 2026 |
2 to 4 pm |
Event has concluded |
|
2 |
March 11, 2026 |
6 to 8 pm |
Event has concluded |
|
3 |
March 12, 2026 |
2 to 4 pm |
Event has concluded |
|
4 |
March 12, 2026 |
6 to 8 pm |
Event has concluded |
The sessions will cover:
- information about the public consultation process
- background of the Pickering Lands
- information on how you can provide feedback on the future uses of the Pickering Lands, and
- how this information will be used.
During the sessions, you will have the chance to provide feedback. Officials from Transport Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and Canada Lands Company will be present to hear your feedback and answer your questions.
Transport Canada, in collaboration with other government departments, will also be meeting with provincial and municipal representatives and other local stakeholder groups across various sectors to get their feedback.
Key themes for discussion
We are looking for feedback on potential future uses of the lands, including:
- expansion of the Rouge National Urban Park
- other conservation and environmental protection
- other public parks and recreational spaces
- agricultural use
- residential development
- commercial development
- industrial development, and
- transportation
Please refer to the Information Guide: Pickering Lands Future Uses Considerations for more information.
Next steps
Once the consultation period ends, we will review all the feedback, comments and responses we collect and will consider it in the context of decisions for the future uses of the Pickering Lands. We will publish a “What We Heard” report to summarize the feedback.
Privacy
In order to respect privacy and confidentiality, when you provide your comments (by email or mail) please advise, whether you:
- consent to the disclosure of your comments in whole or in part
- would like any parts of your comments be kept confidential (if so, clearly identify the confidential portions)
Information received through this public comment process is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. If you indicate that your comments, or any parts thereof, be considered confidential, Transport Canada will make all reasonable efforts to protect this information.
All personal information created, held, or collected by the agency is kept strictly confidential; it is protected by the Privacy Act. For more information on Transport Canada’s privacy policies, please reference: Canada’s Privacy Act.
Contact us
Email: Pickering@tc.gc.ca
Mail:
Future uses of the Pickering Lands
Transport Canada
4900 Yonge St
Toronto, ON, M2N 6A5