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July 08, 2006
Respect the Authority
Let me say up front that I have little time for the Toronto Port Authority. I find a great many of its decisions baffling, none more so than planning a $10.5 million International Marine Passenger Terminal to serve a very dubious Rochester-to-Toronto ferry concern and then, upon said concern's (first) demise, going ahead and actually building it for some reason.
But on the issue of the City Centre Airport, they are on solid philosophical bedrock. They want planes to fly in and out of it. They think it odd that the convenience it offers should be offset by a having to wait for a 121-metre ride on a rustbucket ferry. I tend to agree.
The most pressing issue, however, is that this debate somehow be made to die. The degree of importance many Torontonians, politicians and otherwise, afford to the issue of a few turboprops per day flying in and out of YTZ can only be considered a mild form of municipal insanity. If it means shutting the place down for good then so be it. Ideologically that's not the solution I'd support, but practically I'd gladly pay that price never to hear about the damn thing ever again.
Posted by Chris Selley at July 8, 2006 02:30 AM
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Comments
First off, this is not like you, but "a rustbucket ferry" is misleading and untrue. It isn't terribly "inconvenient" to take a ferry 120 metres - it's MORE convenient than driving out to Pearson, so I don't see the big to-do.
There can be a small airport and a ferry - no big deal.
You say, "they (the Toronto Port Authority) want planes to fly in and out of it". Who cares what they want? It's a decision for Toronto to make, not the TPA. I feel Toronto has decided against it, but if someone can drum up the support for it, great, go for it. But the TPA has proven itself incompetent and unheeding of the public interest too many times to follow on this. It's for the city to decide, not this pack of brainiacs.
I don't think you should align yourself with bad bureaucrats just because they're on the same philosophical ground as you. Campaign away, by all means, for a bigger, expanded airport and a bridge - but for my sake, pretty please, leave the Toronto Port Authority out of your Friendster list!
Posted by: Jason at July 8, 2006 11:51 AM
I agree that the issue should go away, one way or another. Torontonians, by most polls, don't seem to want the island airport and I count myself among the majority. However, if the citizens of this city decide, either by a change in council or by electing a mayor who supports the regular use of the island airport, then I'll respect that decision.
The Toronto Port Authority, on the other hand, is an abomination. Initially funded out of federal taxpayer dollars, they now lose money each year and in fact only seem to stay in business by launching lawsuits against various governments and citizen's groups. So millions of taxpayer dollars go to fund an agency whose only purpose is to subvert the will of the local electorate and to prop up the business plan of one airline.
I'm so hoping the Tories decide to kill the TPA. If they do, then Torontonians will have been far better served by the Conservatives in their 8 months in power than they were by the Liberals in 12+years.
Posted by: kyle at July 10, 2006 09:53 AM
I lived about ten block away from the Island airport and when I had to fly to Ottawa it was a treat. No BS about the cab/limo/bus to Pearson. Perfect.
Meanwhile, if the airport were to close a rather good alternative would be floatplanes. We have them buzzing in and out of victoria for Vancouver ona regular basis. All they need is a dock and bbig city folks like torontonians will put the dock cityside and sink the ferry.
Posted by: Jay Currie at July 16, 2006 02:27 AM