Why the Island Airport should close
(Today we received a message from a reader questioning why CommunityAIR is continuing to call for the closure of the Island Airport. This is Bill Freeman's reply.)
Thanks for your thoughtful message.
Thanks for your thoughtful message.
CommunityAIR calls for the closure of the Island Airport for many reasons. The Waterfront is being redeveloped as a live-work neighbourhood and billions of dollars are being invested in new buildings and public facilities. The Islands and Lake Ontario are a major natural environment for the City of Toronto that teams with wildlife. It has long been the most important recreational area of the city where millions of people relax and enjoy themselves. A busy airport in the midst of this environment, with the inevitable noise, pollution and traffic that it generates, is totally incompatible with this new vision of a revitalized Waterfront.
Your concern about jobs is a real but the success of Porter Airlines is not dependent on its location at the Island Airport. The appropriate location for the company is Pearson International Airport. The reason the company located on the Island is that the rent is lower than Pearson and they can service people who live and work in the downtown. But if we are planning a city, and trying to build the quality of life that we all want, then businesses have to conform to the needs and wishes of the citizens. We cannot, and should not, be dictated to, or guided by, the need for profits by a corporation or private business. Porter has established a business at the Island Airport to their credit. If it is viable it can survive at Pearson as well as at the Island Airport.
Thanks for your comments. Bill Freeman, for CommunityAIR
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