/h/Neutral-President
Ban Jets at Billy Bishop Airport to Protect Toronto's Waterfront
Yesterday was an absolutely glorious afternoon on the waterfront. A friend was visiting from the west coast, and we enjoyed dining, drinking, and walking along the waterfront from Amsterdam to Sugar Beach. We couldn’t imagine how awful it would be with the noise and smell of jets at Billy Bishop. Say no to jets on the Toronto waterfront. We are so fortunate to have this at our doorstep, and cannot let our premier and private interests ruin it.
A permanent jet ban is the only way to protect billions in waterfront value. The $2.3 billion in annual tourism revenue and property tax base are too big to gamble on a trial that would create irreversible noise damage.
This is about equity for the thousands of residents and visitors who use the waterfront daily. We can't trade their health and quiet enjoyment for a handful of business-class routes.
London City Airport's failed A318 trial proves that once you open the door to jets, you can't close it. Precedent is clear: strict type restrictions work, partial experiments don't.
What happens when Porter argues the ban unfairly limits competition with Pearson? A legal challenge could tie this up for years and cost far more than $500,000.
/b/Casey Kim
Codifying the ban now locks in a unique urban asset that other cities envy. Imagine a waterfront where planes and parks coexist peacefully—that's a legacy worth fighting for.
I hear the tension between economic growth arguments and quality-of-life protections. But the three-tier approach gives us a way to settle this once and for all without leaving either side feeling railroaded.