khris
Senior Member
Toronto's island airport gets second, bigger ferry
Newly expanded board of port authority says it will borrow $5 million
Jan 22, 2009 04:30 AM
Vanessa Lu
Nick Aveling
Staff Reporters
Toronto's island airport is getting a new, 200-seat ferry to shuttle passengers across the water – one of the first decisions of a recently expanded Toronto Port Authority board.
And although passengers of Porter Airlines can now look forward to choosing from more seats, the decision isn't popular with everyone.
"The last thing to put money in is short-haul air," said Brian Iler of Community Air, a group that opposes the island airport. "If we're talking about climate change, we want to put money into fast rail. But here they (the federal government) are supporting what should be a dying industry.
"We've seen so much public money and public assets wasted on this airport. For them to throw yet more money in support of private enterprise makes no sense, and is just so appalling," he said.
But newly elected port authority chair Mark McQueen said the ferry, which is expected to cost about $5 million, won't require new federal funds.
"We are borrowing the money from a chartered bank, using the airport improvement fee to pay for it," he said, referring to the $15 fee paid by passengers travelling from the airport. "It's all on our own borrowing authority."
The move was divisive even within the ranks of the port authority, said McQueen.
"It's much discussed for many months. Not everybody is a fan of the airport," he said.
In recent weeks, Transport Minister John Baird has made two controversial appointments to the port authority, expanding the board from seven to nine and tipping the balance of power in favour of Tory appointees and away from the city's representative, David Gurin.
Mayor David Miller, who has repeatedly locked horns with the port authority, has called the appointments "outrageous" and an "underhanded manoeuvre."
The port authority paid $4.5 million for a 150-seat ferry in 2006, but officials argue another is needed. The current backup ferry dates from the 1950s and leaves passengers exposed to the elements.
Porter Airlines, which operates daily flights from the island, says it needs a bigger ferry for peak times.
"We do find when they have heavy loads, it is very cozy," airport director Ken Lundy said in an interview last month. "It could be expanded to give more comfort."
The new ferry is the same length and width (100 by 38 feet), but would cost more because it would have 200 seats. It would hold the same number of vehicles: 15. The ferry purchased in 2006 would become the backup shuttle.
Lundy estimates 45,000 passengers come through the airport each month.
Source
Newly expanded board of port authority says it will borrow $5 million
Jan 22, 2009 04:30 AM
Vanessa Lu
Nick Aveling
Staff Reporters
Toronto's island airport is getting a new, 200-seat ferry to shuttle passengers across the water – one of the first decisions of a recently expanded Toronto Port Authority board.
And although passengers of Porter Airlines can now look forward to choosing from more seats, the decision isn't popular with everyone.
"The last thing to put money in is short-haul air," said Brian Iler of Community Air, a group that opposes the island airport. "If we're talking about climate change, we want to put money into fast rail. But here they (the federal government) are supporting what should be a dying industry.
"We've seen so much public money and public assets wasted on this airport. For them to throw yet more money in support of private enterprise makes no sense, and is just so appalling," he said.
But newly elected port authority chair Mark McQueen said the ferry, which is expected to cost about $5 million, won't require new federal funds.
"We are borrowing the money from a chartered bank, using the airport improvement fee to pay for it," he said, referring to the $15 fee paid by passengers travelling from the airport. "It's all on our own borrowing authority."
The move was divisive even within the ranks of the port authority, said McQueen.
"It's much discussed for many months. Not everybody is a fan of the airport," he said.
In recent weeks, Transport Minister John Baird has made two controversial appointments to the port authority, expanding the board from seven to nine and tipping the balance of power in favour of Tory appointees and away from the city's representative, David Gurin.
Mayor David Miller, who has repeatedly locked horns with the port authority, has called the appointments "outrageous" and an "underhanded manoeuvre."
The port authority paid $4.5 million for a 150-seat ferry in 2006, but officials argue another is needed. The current backup ferry dates from the 1950s and leaves passengers exposed to the elements.
Porter Airlines, which operates daily flights from the island, says it needs a bigger ferry for peak times.
"We do find when they have heavy loads, it is very cozy," airport director Ken Lundy said in an interview last month. "It could be expanded to give more comfort."
The new ferry is the same length and width (100 by 38 feet), but would cost more because it would have 200 seats. It would hold the same number of vehicles: 15. The ferry purchased in 2006 would become the backup shuttle.
Lundy estimates 45,000 passengers come through the airport each month.
Source
