Last Saturday, March 29, was Earth Hour. To heighten awareness of the threat of climate change, people across the globe were asked to turn off their lights for one hour. Bucking the prevailing mood of environmental responsibility, Robert Deluce, head of Porter Air, chose that day to launch his company's new service to Newark, New Jersey.

According to the Toronto Star, former Ontario finance Minister Greg Sorbara was among the VIP guests on Porter's maiden flight to Newark. Sorbara was recently appointed to head a task force to study ways to boost Ontario tourism. "We have to become a more welcoming province," he told reporters covering the announcement.

We at Community Air have a suggestion for Sorbara's task force: Close the Toronto Island Airport. A clean, green, beautiful Toronto waterfront is a far more welcoming tourist attraction than a busy, noisy, polluting airport.

Kathleen McDonnell

Editor's note:  Porter's first flight to Newark's Liberty International Airport had 47 passengers in the 70-seat plane. Six travelers took the 11:30 a.m. return flight.