NoJetsTO group claims victory following city council vote

After almost a year of constant lobbying and advertising, Porter Airlines’ push to expand the Island Airport is stalling with City Council’s adoption of the staff recommendation for tiered negotiations and severe additional conditions attached.

“Today’s City Council decision is a victory for us as Porter didn’t get the jet approval they were seeking,” NoJetsTO chair Anshul Kapoor commented. “That Robert Deluce’s push for quick approval was stalled is in no small part the result of grassroots organizing.”

Porter failed to muster enough support for an outright approval of its jet plans. The Council vote delays the final decision until 2015 after further studies and negotiations with the Port Authority.

“With our current City Council being this dysfunctional, it’s no surprise that the actual jet decision got delayed,” NoJetsTO chair Anshul Kapoor added. “It’s a clear win that City Council wants negotiations to clean up the current mess around the Island Airport.”

“NoJetsTO welcomes the additional conditions attached by City Council, especially the commitment not to use our tax dollars,” the group’s chair said. “Bringing in Waterfront Toronto, and scrutinizing existing and future safety rule exemptions are also major gains for NoJetsTO.”

The deferral of the decision will give the volunteer organization NoJetsTO more opportunities to reach out to Toronto residents. The upcoming municipal election is also on the group’s radar.

“We look forward continuing our grassroots efforts and informing even more residents about the expansion impacts,” the NoJetsTO chair remarked. “We will also assess how NoJetsTO can support candidates in the upcoming municipal election that share the vision for Toronto and its revitalized waterfront.”

NoJetsTO is a coalition of concerned citizens dedicated to preserving Toronto’s mixed-use waterfront and a boutique Island Airport. Representing residents across Toronto, the non-partisan organization NoJetsTO opposes the expansion of the Island Airport through jet aircraft and extended runways. NoJetsTO’s goal is to preserve the status quo at the Island Airport by protecting the Tripartite Agreement that governs it.