Contact: Brian Iler, Chair

Yesterday the Toronto Port Authority announced its $16 million capital spending plans for 2010.

Of these, at least $8 million are allocated for the Island Airport, which is dominated by Porter’s expanding commercial passenger operations..

"The process here stinks" said Brian Iler, Chair, CommunityAIR. "There has been no consultation whatsoever with the waterfront communities – or, to our knowledge, the City of Toronto – as to their priorities for their waterfront.

"To allocate half of their capital spending to further subsidize Porter’s operations is wrong and misguided. Our message to the TPA: NO MORE PORTER SUBSIDIES."

Porter’s already received an immense amount of government subsidies:

the initial $20 million given to "compensate" it for not being able to start an airline because of Paul Martin’s cancellation of the Island Airport bridge,

the $20 million purchase of two ferries and the construction of two ferry terminals for Porter’s virtually exclusive use,

the federal government’s Export Development Corporation’s $250-500 million financing for the purchase of all Porter’s aircraft after the first four".

A key priority for Torontonians is repair of the decrepit port infrastructure – the century-old break walls in both entrances to Toronto’s harbour- are collapsing, and in dire need of repair.

CommuunitAIR -- Working towards a clean, green waterfront