Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Waterkeeper submits formal comment on Toronto Island Airport Expansion
Waterkeeper recommends that the City of Toronto defer its decision to approve the airport expansion. Without environmental assessment, permits, proof that environmental harm will not occur, and adequate public consultation, the City’s permission is premature. The consequences of making a rushed decision are significant and potentially irreversible harm to public resources; those consequences outweigh any perceived private benefits of the project.
Island Airport Expansion is premature, Waterkeeper tells city
Two City of Toronto committees are meeting to review Porter Airline’s island airport expansion proposal. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is appearing before both committees to caution the city against hasty decision-making when the stakes - the future of our waterfront - are so high. Here is the text of our oral submission to the Subcommittee to Review Billy Bishop Airport Consultants Reports.
Our main conclusion is this: decisions made in the name of “convenience” alone can cost the city millions of dollars and significant lost opportunity. Therefore, a decision on the airport expansion requires legal oversight through Environmental Assessments and permit applications. And this is a good thing: following legal processes now can avoid political headaches and costly mistakes later.
Concerns voiced over Island Airport EA
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper became concerned about the future of the Toronto Harbour when the Port Authority announced it wanted to build a bridge to the Toronto Island Airport. The bridge would help to expand airport activities - something that alarmed area residents. The bridge would also create a navigation problem for the many sailors, boaters, and tour boat companies that rely on the Western Gap to enter and exit the harbour.
We read the environmental assessment reports and found serious problems with the project. We also found the decision-making process to be flawed. This letter relays our concerns to the Toronto Port Authority.
Toronto: a 'maritime community'
Toronto grew up as a nautical city and yet its relationship to the water has been cut off. And thats what happens to our water resources, to the public trust, to the commons; we allow industry to privatize to take them over and take them away from the public and the public thinks its okay because they're doing it and they turn their backs on the water and go play golf or do some other activities.