I have just learned that the Toronto Island Airport Terminal Building (also known as the Administration Building), a National Historic Site, included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties, is in imminent danger of destruction.  It is on airport lands, owned by the TPA, directly south of the Island Airport ferry slip. 

  The Toronto Port Authority advised the City some months ago,  that the Administration Building is no longer appropriate for airport use and is required to be relocated and the City must decide whether to take over ownership of the Building.  City staff has concluded that taking ownership of the building is not in the City's interest.  The City is to provide written notice to the TPA on or before August 5, 2011.   

 If the City fails to provide the written notice before August 5, 2011, the TPA will be entitled to move or demolish the Building at its option and as it wishes. Designed and built in 1938-39, The Administration Building was part of the first group of airport terminals to be approved by the newly-formed Department of Transport.  The building is a two-storey, wooden aviation terminal with a central control tower. It is probably the oldest existing terminal building of its kind in Canada.

 It is shameful to think that the TPA, as an arm of the Transport Canada, is prepared to cavalierly dismiss a unique part of almost 100 years of Canadian aviation history, as part of its unnecessary tunnel program, largely for the benefit of private commercial enterprise.  It has even gone so far as to pressure Transport Canada to rescind legislation made by the Martin Government in 2005 forbidding any kind of fixed link to  the Island Airport.  Transport has acquiesed, putting forward a new regulation to expressly permit a tunnel to the Island Airport, disregarding the fact that millions and millions have been spent in the past fivef years on two new ferries, a new air terminal and countless other items.  And now, we are reaching the billions stage, to be paid by private partnerships and Porter's $20 passenger fee! 

As a life-long Toronto resident and taxpayer, I believe that this whole procedure should be stopped, the TPA tunnel cancelled once and for all (a fixed link to our unique, precious Toronto Islands has been fought off for over 70 years), but for the safety of the whole densely packed condo and entertainment area only a little over 400 metres north.

On the other hand, perhaps we Torontonians keen of safety and the environment, who truly cherish our unspoiled, unique Toronto Islands heritage should step upright now and support a class action to be laid against the Toronto Port Authority (aka Federal Government) for irresponsibly acting against the best interests of residents (see Martin Government 2005 law and Report of 1998 Crombie Royal Commission), for loss of enjoyment of outdoors at their properties, for adding to evironmental pollution, for diminishment of waterfront quality of life for residents, uptown visitors, families and tourists alike, and for potential threats to safety.  Also included could be misuse of taxpayer monies and potential financial losses when the inevitable crash occurs.

Possibly a thorough forensic accounting report of the whole matter could be ordered.

Trusting that you will act in the best interest of Toronto citizens,

Shirley Bush