Porter expansion plans met with mixed reaction at city hall
Posted April 10, 2013 7:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Porter Airlines’ plans to expand its wings rests with city council.
But the plans stirred mixed reaction at city hall Wednesday.
The plans are running into turbulence from several city councillors including Coun. Karen Stintz.
“I support Porter and all its business initiatives. But when we’re talking about lengthening runways and putting jets in the downtown, I think that’s a much different issue.”
“The tunnel is now being built. I think that’s going to bring needed improvements into the airport but I don’t think at this point we should be expanding the runway.”
Coun. Adam Vaughan, whose ward borders the airport, says jets landing and taking off will destroy the waterfront.
“That means it’s not just quiet jets coming. It’s every jet that’s coming and that has a huge impact on anyone who lives anywhere near the waterfront from Scarborough right through to Etobicoke.”
“The impact for noise and disturbance is more than just a Ward 20 issue. This is a City of Toronto issue.”
But Coun. Doug Ford says he is in favour of an expansion because it will generate jobs.
“It’s a right thing for the city and we support jobs and this is going to create jobs.”
“Not only here at Porter in the city but it’s creating jobs at Bombardier.”
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong supports the expansion and says it could be an election issue next year.
“There might be left-leaning, mayoralty candidates who would love to take this into the next municipal election and not talk abput the real issues that we need to face,” he said.
Porter Airlines said Wednesday that it will seek permission to fly Bombardier’s CS100 jets out of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The airline said it will also seek to extend the main runway at the airport.
