Island airport bridge hits major roadblock
People are already comparing mayor-elect David Miller to former mayor and reformer David Crombie.
Another similarity is that in Crombie’s era the big push was to stop the Spadina Expressway and for Miller it’s the island airport bridge. It is looking more and more likely, that Miller will be able to fulfill his election promise to stop the bridge in its tracks. Here’s why:
Miller has said repeatedly that the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), which operates the Toronto City Centre Airport (island airport) doesn’t have permission to start construction for the fixed link. Two days after being elected mayor, Miller told the Town Crier, that federal transport minister "David Collenette has said he will respect the wishes of the people of Toronto."
He referred to Collenette’s remarks that this election was a referendum of sorts and that if citizens elected Miller on his platform to stop the bridge, the federal government would be respectful of that. The TPA is an agency of the federal government.
"Paul Martin (prime minister in waiting) has taken it further and said the people of Toronto have spoken and the island airport fixed link is dead," Miller said in a Nov. 12 interview.
Miller also said that the federal government won’t allow the TPA to sue, if it comes to that.
However, in 2002 the TPA did sue the city for $1 billion and the city government settled (with taxpayers money) for about $55 million including continued subsidies for the next several years.
The TPA’s airport is a money loser and many believe the bridge’s real purpose is to allow millionaire Robert Deluce to start up his new airline next year. Deluce has said he will sue if the city backs out of its agreement.
However, "we don’t have a contract with Robert Deluce," Trinity-Spadina Councillor Olivia Chow (Ward 20) said. "I have not seen a contract between him and the port authority. They have not shown it to us. They say it is none of our business."
Martin has stated that if the new city council reverses its position, he will support that. November 2002, city council voted 29-11 for the fixed link. This time out, Miller would need it to swing the opposite way.
A recent Globe & Mail article hints that this is quite possible. The national daily asked all 44 elected councillors if they support reversing council’s decision on the bridge. The answer: 20 said yes, 16 said no. However Chow would add three more (who did not answer that survey) to the stop the bridge side bringing the total to 23 (plus the mayor) for stopping the bridge, which is enough to overturn it.
If council overturns its decision is that the end of the bridge? "That is the end absolutely," claims Chow, who is a fierce opponent of the fixed link.
Another reason that council could get out of the deal, is that there really is no deal, say both Miller and Chow. That is because approvals are still looming. One key issue, says Chow, is that the TPA has not provided the city with a financial agreement that says the city will not have to pay foe the bridge’s construction. The Coast Guard had not signed off either.
It has been reported that Collenette said the federal government only signed off on it because the city had approved it. Chow maintains that the city has not signed off on the deal. Miller is asking any parties who have not signed off to wait until council can re-open the issue.
The day after Miller was elected, protesters headed to the island airport. "I think it will be a fight," says North Yorker Martin Abela. "There are interests behind this who don’t necessarily have our interests at heart."
Trinity-Spadina NDP MPP Rosario Marchese, newly elected Davenport councillor Adam Giambrone (Ward 18) and Chow were at the protest.
Another sign that Miller can stop the fixed link is that the federal government is heading into an election year and they need the support of Torontonians.
"We need the co-operation of the federal government," added protester Abela. "I think they will. Collenette’s riding is in Toronto and his job is not necessarily secure. I think he’ll listen to the people of Toronto."
Community Air, a group of residents and environmental activists are challenging the TPA’s environmental assessment, which was done by Dilion, the same company that designed the bridge. The group has hired a lawyer and is willing to take the TPA to court, if need be.
"Community Air says we have a viable lawsuit," says sailor Victoria Piersig, who was at the protest. She says it doesn’t matter what it costs, if legal action proceeds because taxpayers are on the hook now paying subsidies to the money-losing airport.
Piersig, a waterfront resident for 18 years adds if the TPA goes ahead with construction, "People will lay down in front of the bulldozers and I’ll be one of them."
The issue comes down to, "Do we live in a democratic society where people’s wishes are listened to and acted upon? Or will we allow an elite money few to dictate to us? People are tired of it," says Piersig.
Calls to Lisa Raitt, CEO of the TPA were not returned.
Is there any reason the TPA can proceed? "No," concludes councillor Chow.
