Dear Joe:

The problems of an airport in Toronto's downtown, in the midst of a Waterfront in the process of being redeveloped--the largest redevelopment project in North America, cannot be solved by simply ignoring it and being "positive."

Air pollution, excessive noise and safety concerns are not insignificant.  We are trying to build a city that respects and enhances the quality of life in our city and looks to ways of reducing pollution in all of its forms.  An airport on the Waterfront, two kilometres from the downtown central core of Toronto, is incompatible with the livable city.  That is the core issue that CommunityAIR is addressing.

This does not mean to say that we do not have sympathy for people living around Pearson.  Once the Island Airport closes perhaps CommunityAIR should address ways of reducing air traffic and pollution at Pearson, but for the moment the Island Airport is the carbuncle on the city's downtown and that is where we will focus our efforts until it is closed. 

All politics is local, as the saying goes, and this is our contribution in the efforts to create a great, livable city.

Bill Freeman

Bill Freeman