Send this page to someone via emailThe federal government’s decision to halt Ontario’s plan for a major expansion of Billy Bishop airport will guard Toronto’s waterfront against serious setbacks to its revitalization, advocates say. The project would involve increased pollution and “massive destruction” of the Toronto Islands after billions of dollars invested in waterfront rehabilitation over the past couple of decades, said Tim Gray, executive director of Environmental Defence. “The federal government listened to the people of Toronto who organized by the tens of thousands to push back against this proposal,” Gray said. Get daily National news Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories. The Ford government has said the airport would eventually notch a projected 10 million passengers a year and generate $8.5 billion in annual economic benefits.