Rob - the problem with your argument about the airport being there first is that the Airport's commercial expansion is only supposed to be permitted on a very narrow basis, as set out in the tripartite agreement.

* Only STOL aircraft are to be used (the Q400 is not)

* Aircraft with noise emissions above a certain limit are prohibited (the Q400's noise is above the limit on two of the three criteria) and

* Noise Exposure Forecast contour limits (as calculated by Transport Canada) are to be honoured (we can't get the existing NEF Contour studies from either the TPA or Transport Canada, and although Transport Canada is obliged to do a new one, it has done nothing to commence it for, now, eight months).

People who live on th waterfront are entitled to rely on the protection those constraints are intended to provide, and insist that they be honoured, at a minimum.

The TPA does not respect or enforce the limits it agreed to. If it did, of course, Porter would be operating out of Pearson now, and competing on a LEVEL playing field with the other airlines serving its markets.

Brian Iler, chair
CommunityAIR