There is a committee meeting this morning, regarding Porter Airline’s request to land jets on our Toronto Island Airport. I am in the council chamber to cheer on the over 200 deputants who will speak against the jet idea.
Yes, Mayor RoFo will be here. Yes, he is pro-jets, of course. No, we will not change his mind, but there are other councillors here who may be impressed by the turnout. The public gallery is packed. Originally, the meeting was to be held in a Committee Room, but it was necessary to move the meeting to the full council chamber, just to hold everyone.
Break for lunch at 12:30, meeting resumes at 1:30.
Impressions from the morning. The Porter machine is here in force, but most of the deputants have been making strong arguments against jets. Porter CEO made his usual pitch to committee members who are mostly in his corner.
The outcome of today’s proceedings is a foregone conclusion, but I am very proud of my fellow citizens for the cogent, articulate arguments they have made about the destructive effects jet expansion would assure. Limitations on Portlands development, fuel tankers clogging streets, water pollution from spills, bird strikes, noise, legal liabilities for the City from class action suits, curtailment of boating in the harbour, danger to crowded highrise residents, loss of jobs by smaller companies that have been pushed out by Porter, threatened destruction of a community centre and two schools, and the list goes on and on.
I have come back for the afternoon session, but do not intend to stay until the evening. Things are expected to go on that long, and then there will be a debate among the councillors. Considering that most of the committee members are already committed pro-jetters, they are expected to force a vote by full council on April 1st. I have to come back for that. NO JETS ON BILLY BISHOP.