Walter
11-23-2005, 06:38 AM
Let's close the island airport and turn it into a park and all Olivia and Miller's supporters have to do to get my support is to agree to remove the squatters from the island. It looks like Miller is getting ready for the next election and will build his support base on another issue that pisses off the squatters and condo owners.
By SARAH GREEN, TORONTO SUN
The placards spoke for themselves: "Close Island Airport."
Community groups waved signs and booed loudly as the Toronto Port Authority unveiled plans at an open house last night to build two terminals for ferry passengers -- one on the island and one at the foot of Bathurst St. -- and a covered walkway at the airport.
"We're going to oppose this in every possible way we can," said Bill Freeman, spokesman for the environmental group, Community AIR, during an impromptu rally at the open house at a downtown hotel. "It's a sham in our view."
Freeman said the $15-million ferry terminal project will pave the way for dramatic expansion of the airport.
The port authority's environmental assessment of the plan -- displayed on posters last night for public viewing -- said passenger traffic at the airport could increase to 600,000 a year by 2011 from the current 30,000.
NOT TRUE?
Ken Lundy, the port authority's chief of operations and engineering, said the 600,000 figure is an estimate and that there would likely be fewer passengers.
"The notion of (airport) expansion is not true. This is an improvement to passenger travel," Lundy said, noting commuters are now forced to stand outside in the elements waiting for ferries. "It's an unpleasant experience."
Freeman, of Community AIR, said the environmental assessment doesn't look at the impact of a possible 600,000 passengers coming through the airport.
"That could be a flight every 10 to 15 minutes to the waterfront. It would destroy the waterfront," added Toronto Councillor Olivia Chow. "We want a clean, green waterfront -- not a waterfront with 600,000 passengers a year."
The island would better serve residents as a park, similar to Centre Island, which sees one million visitors a year, Chow said.
The crowd burst into noisy chants of "clean, green waterfront."
By SARAH GREEN, TORONTO SUN
The placards spoke for themselves: "Close Island Airport."
Community groups waved signs and booed loudly as the Toronto Port Authority unveiled plans at an open house last night to build two terminals for ferry passengers -- one on the island and one at the foot of Bathurst St. -- and a covered walkway at the airport.
"We're going to oppose this in every possible way we can," said Bill Freeman, spokesman for the environmental group, Community AIR, during an impromptu rally at the open house at a downtown hotel. "It's a sham in our view."
Freeman said the $15-million ferry terminal project will pave the way for dramatic expansion of the airport.
The port authority's environmental assessment of the plan -- displayed on posters last night for public viewing -- said passenger traffic at the airport could increase to 600,000 a year by 2011 from the current 30,000.
NOT TRUE?
Ken Lundy, the port authority's chief of operations and engineering, said the 600,000 figure is an estimate and that there would likely be fewer passengers.
"The notion of (airport) expansion is not true. This is an improvement to passenger travel," Lundy said, noting commuters are now forced to stand outside in the elements waiting for ferries. "It's an unpleasant experience."
Freeman, of Community AIR, said the environmental assessment doesn't look at the impact of a possible 600,000 passengers coming through the airport.
"That could be a flight every 10 to 15 minutes to the waterfront. It would destroy the waterfront," added Toronto Councillor Olivia Chow. "We want a clean, green waterfront -- not a waterfront with 600,000 passengers a year."
The island would better serve residents as a park, similar to Centre Island, which sees one million visitors a year, Chow said.
The crowd burst into noisy chants of "clean, green waterfront."