Community Air
Encyclopedia
Community Air is a non-profit resident association in the city of Toronto
, Canada
that seeks to have the Toronto Island Airport) shut down and its lands converted to park land. The association is concerned about noise, pollution and safety aspects of the airport's operation. The group has regularly held protests at the airport site and at the airport's operator's (the Toronto Port Authority
) general meetings.
resident and opponent of the project. After his death, Toronto City Council revived the airport project, without the tunnel, to be Toronto's main airport. This airport has remained in use since 1939, serving mainly general aviation. An airport at Malton, Ontario
instead became Toronto's main airport and is today's Pearson Airport.
A plan was raised in the 1970s to add scheduled passenger service at the island airport by federal politicians. At the time, Toronto was a two-tier government. The City of Toronto was part of Metropolitan Toronto. Local opposition appeared to the plan to add planes to the airport. The City of Toronto opposed the plan, while Metro Toronto voted in favour. A compromise was reached in 1983 allowing only STOL
type planes to use the airport with jets banned, and no runway expansion allowed.
In the 1990s, plans were revived to expand the airport, and Toronto City Council, now an amalgamated city government voted in favour of building a bridge, although the plan never progressed beyond a plan on paper. However in 1999, the Toronto Port Authority
was formed, a new agency tasked with managing the airport and Toronto harbour. The agency took on a pro-airport expansion position and started pushing the airport expansion idea publicly. The agency expressed the opinion, backed by a 2001 consultant's study, that the airport could not survive as is, and had to expand or shut down. The TPA proposed the expansion of the airport for its economic benefit to the city.
Also during the 1990s, the city had taken an interest in waterfront revitalization, with several studies proposing the takeover of harbour and airport functions and the conversion of disused or under-used port lands for other uses. The consensus of revitalization studies was the removal of the Gardiner Expressway
in the downtown area, greening of the lakefront and harbourfront, and a closure or reduction in the island airport.
Opposition to the island airport was formalized into the Community AIR (Airport Impact Review) volunteer association in 2001, headed by the late activist and former councillor Allan Sparrow
. It was formed by local residents to oppose expansion on the grounds of increased air
and noise pollution
, safety concerns and that the increase in air traffic will hamper recent government initiatives to rejuvenate the Toronto waterfront
. In July 2001, at a news conference held with representatives of the Sierra Club, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Toronto Environmental Alliance, the group proposed converting the 200 acres (80.9 ha) airport to parkland. Community Air's aims were and are supported by the City councillors of the area, including a churlish Adam Vaughan
.
Even with the Community Air's support of the cancellation of the fixed-bridge to the Island Airport (as a result of the election of David Miller as mayor), the issue of a link to the mainland continued to be discussed.
In July 2010, a new proposal for a tunnel to the island was raised by the Toronto Port Authority. The revised designs for the tunnel specifically circumvented any need for local council approval, and provided that financial support is obtained, Community Air and several councillors will likely not be able to block the construction when it begins in late 2010 / early 2011.
launched a lawsuit against Community Air, claiming it had defamed individual board members and the agency.
On May 2, 2007, the lawsuit was dropped after Community Air issued an unconditional apology.
Porter's aircraft (Bombardier Q400s) are one of the quietest models to date ( the Q standing for 'quiet') and critics claim the noise pollution incidents have not been as loud as what Community AIR claimed.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that seeks to have the Toronto Island Airport) shut down and its lands converted to park land. The association is concerned about noise, pollution and safety aspects of the airport's operation. The group has regularly held protests at the airport site and at the airport's operator's (the Toronto Port Authority
Toronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
) general meetings.
History
Opposition to the island airport goes back to the 1930s, when a plan to build a tunnel to the islands for a new airport was shut down after a federal election. The Toronto mayor at the time was a Toronto IslandsToronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
resident and opponent of the project. After his death, Toronto City Council revived the airport project, without the tunnel, to be Toronto's main airport. This airport has remained in use since 1939, serving mainly general aviation. An airport at Malton, Ontario
Malton, Ontario
Malton is a neighbourhood in the northeastern part of the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, located to the northwest of Toronto. The neighbourhood has a population of approximately 36,400 as of 2002....
instead became Toronto's main airport and is today's Pearson Airport.
A plan was raised in the 1970s to add scheduled passenger service at the island airport by federal politicians. At the time, Toronto was a two-tier government. The City of Toronto was part of Metropolitan Toronto. Local opposition appeared to the plan to add planes to the airport. The City of Toronto opposed the plan, while Metro Toronto voted in favour. A compromise was reached in 1983 allowing only STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
type planes to use the airport with jets banned, and no runway expansion allowed.
In the 1990s, plans were revived to expand the airport, and Toronto City Council, now an amalgamated city government voted in favour of building a bridge, although the plan never progressed beyond a plan on paper. However in 1999, the Toronto Port Authority
Toronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
was formed, a new agency tasked with managing the airport and Toronto harbour. The agency took on a pro-airport expansion position and started pushing the airport expansion idea publicly. The agency expressed the opinion, backed by a 2001 consultant's study, that the airport could not survive as is, and had to expand or shut down. The TPA proposed the expansion of the airport for its economic benefit to the city.
Also during the 1990s, the city had taken an interest in waterfront revitalization, with several studies proposing the takeover of harbour and airport functions and the conversion of disused or under-used port lands for other uses. The consensus of revitalization studies was the removal of the Gardiner Expressway
Gardiner Expressway
The Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, colloquially referred to as "the Gardiner", is a municipal expressway in the Canadian province of Ontario, connecting downtown Toronto with its western suburbs...
in the downtown area, greening of the lakefront and harbourfront, and a closure or reduction in the island airport.
Opposition to the island airport was formalized into the Community AIR (Airport Impact Review) volunteer association in 2001, headed by the late activist and former councillor Allan Sparrow
Allan Sparrow
Allan Sparrow was a Canadian political activist and long standing city councillor in Toronto. He was instrumental in stopping the Spadina Expressway, setting up civilian oversight of the Toronto Police, promoting cycling in Toronto and gay rights...
. It was formed by local residents to oppose expansion on the grounds of increased air
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
and noise pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
, safety concerns and that the increase in air traffic will hamper recent government initiatives to rejuvenate the Toronto waterfront
Toronto waterfront
The Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the Rouge River in the East. The entire lakeshore has been significantly altered from its natural glaciated state prior to...
. In July 2001, at a news conference held with representatives of the Sierra Club, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Toronto Environmental Alliance, the group proposed converting the 200 acres (80.9 ha) airport to parkland. Community Air's aims were and are supported by the City councillors of the area, including a churlish Adam Vaughan
Adam Vaughan
Adam Vaughan is a councillor representing Ward 20 Trinity—Spadina in Toronto, Canada. For about 20 years, Vaughan worked as a political journalist and activist, most recently as the Political Specialist at Citytv/CP24. Before that, for ten years, he reported for CBLT in Toronto as a municipal...
.
Even with the Community Air's support of the cancellation of the fixed-bridge to the Island Airport (as a result of the election of David Miller as mayor), the issue of a link to the mainland continued to be discussed.
In July 2010, a new proposal for a tunnel to the island was raised by the Toronto Port Authority. The revised designs for the tunnel specifically circumvented any need for local council approval, and provided that financial support is obtained, Community Air and several councillors will likely not be able to block the construction when it begins in late 2010 / early 2011.
Lawsuits
In 2006 the Toronto Port AuthorityToronto Port Authority
The Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
launched a lawsuit against Community Air, claiming it had defamed individual board members and the agency.
On May 2, 2007, the lawsuit was dropped after Community Air issued an unconditional apology.
Criticism
Critics of Community Air have pointed out that the Gardiner Expressway, situated on the city's shoreline, contributes over 48,000 times more pollution than does the Island airport (Source: Report on Toronto's Waterfront).Porter's aircraft (Bombardier Q400s) are one of the quietest models to date ( the Q standing for 'quiet') and critics claim the noise pollution incidents have not been as loud as what Community AIR claimed.
See also
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- Lisa RaittLisa RaittLisa Raitt, PC, MP is a Canadian politician, who is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the riding of Halton. She is the current Minister of Labour in the Cabinet of Canada.-Background:...
- Toronto Port AuthorityToronto Port AuthorityThe Toronto Port Authority is a Canadian port authority responsible for management of the harbour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, including the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport...
- Toronto waterfrontToronto waterfrontThe Toronto waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario in the City of Toronto, Ontario in Canada. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west, and the Rouge River in the East. The entire lakeshore has been significantly altered from its natural glaciated state prior to...