We support WATERFRONToronto's vision of
"transforming the waterfront into a marvellous public destination with vibrant public and cultural spaces capable of providing a variety of experiences and amenities and the conservation of its environment and natural resources"
We petition the federal government and Toronto Port Authority to undertake a full and comprehensive environmental assessment (EA) before deciding on whether or not to approve construction of the tunnel project, including:
1. a full and independent study of
(a) air pollution, including the impact of airport expansion on local air pollution and the broader effects of the TPA's planned increase in airplane travel on global climate change,
(b) noise pollution which examines how Island Airport noise is experienced by the community (as opposed to the draft EA which failed to actually measure noise, and averages predicted noise over 24 hours), and
(c) the impact of Island Airport expansion on local and migratory birds and other species
2. transportation alternatives to the Toronto Island Airport, including shifting reliance on airport travel to Pearson Airport or more environmentally friendly modes of travel, such as train travel, and
3. alternative visions for the 215 acres now occupied by the Island Airport that are far more compatible with waterfront revitalization
Our reasons are these:
(1) The proposed pedestrian tunnel doubles capacity for passenger access to the Island Airport, and therefore facilitates massive airport expansion.
(2) The Toronto Islands are an internationally recognized, important bird migratory stopover, poised at the convergence of two major migratory flyways: the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, and contains an important bird sanctuary in close proximity to the busiest runway at the Island Airport.
(3) The TPA wrongly limited its EA on the tunnel to the impact of the tunnel construction project and ignored the impact of increased air, water and noise pollution on birds and other wild life and on the residents and users of our waterfront.
For more information, please visit Community Air www.communityair.org or Friends of Toronto Waterfront Birds www.torontowaterfrontbirds.wordpress.com
The Photo is of a Great Horned Owl sitting on a tree on Snake Island (Toronto Islands). Photo by Sean Tamblyn, www.lagoonreport.com
