Smitherman Flip-flops on Island Airport Tunnel/Bridge

For Release Sunday, October 3, 2010

Contact:  Brian Iler, Chair

416-835-4384 (cell)

416-598-0103 (work

CommunityAIR recently asked the mayoralty candidates three questions on the key waterfront issues. The questions, answers, and responses to a question asked at the Italian Debate on September 14 are attached.

Said Brian Iler, Chair of CommunityAIR:

 “Rob Ford’s responses were no surprise. He never has been a friend of the waterfront or its communities.

“Joe’s been a principled and stalwart ally of ours. His responses are consistent with his demonstrated commitment to communities and city-building.

“The surprise was George Smitherman. His response to us ducked the tunnel/bridge question, but he was more candid at the Italian Debate on September 14 when he stated:

‘I think that the tunnel proposed by the Port Authority, which will be a pedestrian tunnel is something that I can support’.

“In 2003, George Smitherman opposed a bridge to the Island Airport, because an expanded airport would destroy the liveability of the waterfront neighbourhoods, and seriously damage our waterfront for the millions who come there every year to relax and enjoy.

“The only thing going for that airport is convenience - for those taking short-haul flights.

“For their convenience, he has flip-flopped and turned his back on the waterfront - our City's recreational jewel - and its residential communities.”

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CommunityAIR’s Questions and the Candidates’ Answers^[1]

1.       Enforcement of Existing Constraints on Island Airport Expansion

In 1983, when commercial aircraft use of the Island Airport was first contemplated, for the protection of our waterfront and its communities, the City of Toronto insisted on strict constraints on those uses. Those constraints were inserted into a legally enforceable agreement between the City, the Toronto Port Authority and the federal government – called the Tripartite Agreement.

The TPA – an agency controlled by the federal government - has flagrantly disregarded those constraints and has aggressively pursued Island Airport expansion.

Only the City of Toronto can enforce those constraints.

QUESTION: If elected as Mayor of Toronto would you vote in favour of a motion to support and enforce the Tripartite Agreement related to aircraft use of the Island Airport?

RESPONSES:

Rob Ford Campaign: “Like all airports, the island airport and its airline users should be held accountable to meet reasonable noise limits and operating restrictions.”

Joe Pantalone: “Yes”

George Smitherman: “I would vote in favour of such a motion and use my relationships to enhance communication and cooperation.”

2.      Tunnel or Bridge

The Paul Martin government recognized the damage an expanded airport would do to our waterfront, and on May 2, 2005, prohibited a bridge or any similar fixed link (i.e. tunnel) to the Island Airport. The City’s opposition to the bridge was key to the Martin government’s decision.

Yet the Toronto Port Authority continues to seriously plan to dig a tunnel – or posasiblya much cheaper bridge, should the Harper government revoke that prohibition.

QUESTION: Will you vote to allow a tunnel or a bridge to be built to the Island Airport?

RESPONSES:

Rob Ford Campaign: “Rob supports the island airport as an important and effective economic hub in the heart of the city. Making its operations safer and more efficient for users by permitting a tunnel or bridge access makes sense.”

Joe Pantalone: “No”.

George Smitherman: “As a far as I am aware, the construction of a pedestrian tunnel does not require city approval.”

[George was clearer in his answer in the Italian Debate – the full transcript is below:

“I think that the tunnel proposed by the Port Authority, which will be a pedestrian tunnel is something that I can support.”]

3.      Clean Trains

Toronto’s waterfront experiences noise and pollution from three sources – the Island Airport expansion from the south, the Gardiner Expressway, and, potentially, the proposed huge increase in diesel trains along the rail line to the north. We can address the Gardiner’s impact by expanding public transit options. But, in its plans to do so, Metrolinx wants polluting diesel trains, instead of clean, efficient and cost-effective electric trains.

QUESTION: Will you support the waterfront - and the communities all along the Union-Pearson and Lakeshore rail corridor – by encouraging Metrolinx to use clean green trains?

RESPONSES:

Rob Ford Campaign: “Rob has supported the Clean Train Coalition's call to electrify the Airport Express Rail link through the Georgetown Corridor. He generally supports electrification where it can be done affordably and without adding the the tax burden of Toronto residents.”

Joe Pantalone: “Yes”

George Smitherman: “Yes, I have and I will”.

Bridge/Tunnel Question at Italian Debate, September 14, 2010

George Smitherman:  “Well first off I want to say that I think that Porter Airlines, which now employs 900 people, is one of the great economic successes of Toronto in the last numbers of years. And when we consider especially that they bought all their aircraft from the largest industrial employer in all of Toronto, that to have one, the success continues to grow.

“I think that the tunnel proposed by the Port Authority, which will be a pedestrian tunnel is something that I can support. I think that there is one risk which I have talked to people about, I’ve talked to Robert DeLuce at Porter, I’ve spoken to the Port Authority about it: that airport is a relatively modest facility. It really has one operational runway and they are about to jam even more flights through there.

“The quality of customer service, which is what people like the most about Porter, in my opinion, is going to be put at risk by bringing Continental Airlines and Air Canada in there. I wish it was legal and possible for it to be a Porter only facility and I think we should be careful about putting too many flights through there; we may kill the goose that laid the golden egg. “

Rob Ford: “I supported the Bridge and or the Tunnel 100%. I supported the Island Airport right from the beginning. When everyone was saying no, no, no, I said yes. I supported Deluce and his efforts and we were successful and this tunnel will go through and or a bridge. I will be supporting it 100% if I’m fortunate enough to be mayor of this great city. Thank you.”

Joe Pantalone: “Let me tell you why I don’t support the tunnel proposed. Obviously if they have the right to do it, they can do it. But if they need the city’s approval, I do not support it. If you are going anywhere in Europe, Asia or the United States - when you have to travel distances like from Toronto-Montreal, Toronto-New York, Toronto-Ottawa, you don’t take the plane, you take the train. High speed trains.

“There should be high speed trains from Toronto to Montreal. Frankly, why would I want to support the technology that goes up in the air, which is much more expensive (not a completely accurate transcription) that has a big expense on the environment. Plus you have to go through security and plus you have to wait. It [would be] quicker for Torontonians to go to Montreal or New York or Windsor if there were high speed trains like they [have] in Europe.

“However, there are companies that don’t like that ... Porter Airlines and Air Canada, because they lose a lot of business. To me a government for the future is what is best for the corporation, not what is best for Airlines.”

Rocco Rossi: “Well if we wait for Joe’s vision we are going to wait a long time. Thank goodness for Rob Deluce who has created 1000 direct jobs, helped to underpin 5000 jobs at Bombardier Javelin in Downsview and thousands of thousands of jobs in indirect jobs not to mention the  incredible service it’s providing to both business and tourist and putting Toronto literally on the map and making it a more attractive business destination which is something that we all benefit from. So, yes as campaign manager to John Tory I fought for the bridge in 2003 and I will support either the bridge or the tunnel which is the one the Port Authority is now moving forward on, uh- 100%. “

Sarah Thomson: “My campaign manager or director is a man named John Tory Jr. and he is also a pilot. His company is called ‘Private Air’ and they fly off the island airport; so he would kill me if I didn’t support the bridge.

But actually, there are also some other ideas: why don’t we fill in the western channel there; it’s dangerous for boats coming through; if we filled it in we would get more land; I think we wouldn’t have to build a tunnel or a bridge, we can just drive across.

So, there are so many different ideas out here in the community, out here in the private sector. I want to open the doors to city hall and bring these ideas in, because we have great ideas and instead of getting our planners and bureaucrats to make all the decisions for us, I think it’s time we open up the doors and bring the good ideas in, like filling in that western channel and creating more land and more ways of using the Toronto Island Airport. Thank you.”