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This plan must be stopped at the committee level for the following reasons:
1 ) Ward 3, which encompasses the federally owned area of North Pickering known as the "airport lands," is currently without representation following the recent death of Councillor Rick Johnson, who was a long-time opponent of the airport. To take this fast-track action now would be disrespectful to our late councillor's wishes, and to those who elected him, knowing his position on this matter. It would also leave Ward 3 residents without local representation in any vote.
2 ) Since March 2, 1972, every Pickering Council has OPPOSED the airport. In January 2014, Council unanimously passed a motion by Councillor David Pickles, seconded by Councillor Doug Dickerson, calling on the federal government to, among other things, show a business case for use of the Federal Lands, conduct an Environmental Assessment prior to construction of an airport, and have regard for Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine policies. The motion also requested an open and transparent process. We expect the same openness and transparency from our local Council now. If Council ends up passing a motion to fast-track an airport on the Lands, Pickering will be listed as a “WILLING HOST” without having sought public input.
3) The recommendation undercuts three current studies on the future of the Federal Lands: (a) Dr. Polonksy’s report on potential uses for the Lands, completed but not yet released; (b) a 2-3-year study, only recently launched by Transport Canada, of the aviation needs of Southern Ontario; and (c) a major study, about to be launched by Land Over Landings, of the potential economic benefits of permanently protecting the land for food production and agri-business. Any motion to request fast-tracking of an airport is clearly premature at this time.
4) No study in almost half a century has proven a business case for an airport.
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