Pickering Lands

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. A land management strategy will be developed for the remaining lands, with consideration for any potential land requirements for federal projects or initiatives that may be identified.

Decisions regarding the future uses of the Pickering Lands will be informed by consultation with First Nations and engagement with other levels of government, the local community, and the general public.

On this page

Future Uses of the Pickering Lands

As the custodian of the Pickering Lands, Transport Canada 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.

Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations

Federal Airport Zoning Regulations Overview

Federal airport zoning regulations (AZR), enacted with authority under the Aeronautics Act, impose restrictions on owners of property adjacent and in the vicinity of an airport or airport site. Transport Canada may enact AZR to:

  • protect aircraft from hazards (e.g., bird strikes and electronic signal interference)
  • protect existing airport operations (e.g., airspace management and emergency response)
  • ensure that future development near an airport stays compatible with the safe operation of aircraft and of the airport itself.

Future of the Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations

The Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations will remain in force until they are repealed. Transport Canada will look to repeal the current Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations once decisions are taken on the future uses of the Pickering Lands. Please see the current Pickering Airport Zoning map.

Learn more about the Pickering Airport Zoning Regulations

Consultation and Engagement Activities

To inform this work, the Government of Canada plans to consult First Nations and engage provincial and municipal governments, the local community, and the general public to get input and feedback on opportunities for the Pickering Lands.

Transport Canada has begun consultation with Indigenous communities and is committed to working with First Nations on the future uses of the Pickering Lands.

Formal public consultation will be launched in the coming months. The process will include online options to provide input and feedback.

Information for current and prospective tenants

Are you a tenant with a service request? Call the National Service Call Centre (NSCC) at 1-888-526-5673.

Are you a tenant or other individual wishing to communicate with Transport Canada? Please email Pickering@tc.gc.ca

  • There are no changes for tenants in the near term, and any longer-term implications will not be known until decisions are made regarding the future uses of the lands.
  • Day-to-day management and maintenance requests continue to be made via the National Service Call Centre at 1-888-526-5673.

Leases and tenancy policy

  • For residential assets Transport Canada aligns with the applicable sections of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act for administrative and equitable efficiency.
  • Residential lease rates vary. Many are legacy based, negotiated more than 20 years ago and below current market value. Many are month-to-month, and rent increases follow the annual provincial guideline rate as a matter of practice for administrative efficiency rather than legislative requirement.
  • For agricultural properties Transport Canada has essentially near zero vacancy of arable land and leaseholders are at liberty to determine crop types which align with their business model and implements.
  • Commercial lease rates are negotiated between the tenant and Transport Canada. Rates fluctuate based on location, planned use and whether costs such as payment in lieu of taxes can be recovered. Commercial lease terms range from month-to-month to multi-year.

Previous Airport Studies and Aviation Analysis

Since acquiring the Pickering Lands in 1972, Transport Canada has conducted several airport studies and aviation analyses to understand the potential need for an airport on the Pickering Lands.

Most recently, in May 2016, Transport Canada awarded a contract to KPMG to undertake a Pickering Lands Aviation Sector Analysis. The study updated supply and demand forecasts for aviation traffic, developed options for the type and role of an airport in the regional airport system, and provided an assessment of the economic impact of these options. The final phase of the Aviation Sector Analysis was completed in spring 2019. The executive summaries of the three phases of the Aviation Sector are available online, and the full reports may be requested from Transport Canada.

Executive summaries:

You can request a copy of the complete Aviation Sector Analysis report from 2019 by sending an email to: Pickering@tc.gc.ca

As Canada’s air transport sector continues to evolve, the airports serving the Southern Ontario region will continue to fulfill their role in meeting the needs of their surrounding communities. The Government of Canada will continue to monitor airport capacity needs in the region.

Map

Text description
  • The map highlights the location of the Pickering Lands that is owned and managed by Transport Canada. It is 9,328 acres in size.
  • To the northwest of the Pickering Lands are the Rouge National Urban Park lands owned and managed by the Parks Canada Agency. It is 9,703 acres in size.
  • To the south of the Rouge National Urban Park Lands is the original Rouge Park. The Park extends down to Lake Ontario.
  • The map includes major or key roadways and highways, the Canadian Pacific Railway line and Lake Ontario.
  • The Pickering Lands is bordered by Highway 7 to the south with some land extending farther south in the Village of Brougham. Brock Road is the general easterly boundary with some land extensions farther east. The Rouge National Urban Park lands to the north and west. The Canadian Pacific Railway line runs diagonally through the Pickering Lands from its northern border to the eastern border.

Pickering Lands and Rouge National Urban Park
(PDF, 1.29 MB)

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