Toronto Island Airport Bridge

Tamara: 11th Apr 2006 - 16:20 GMT

You should send these to the City of Toronto and see what kind of response you get? Yes, please keep us posted!

joe: 11th Apr 2006 - 16:25 GMT

FYI:
Email: mayor_miller@toronto.ca
or their Media contact: Stuart Green 416-338-7119

jeeff: 11th Apr 2006 - 16:35 GMT

yeah i heard this was being revived and that they're going over the mayor's head.

anon (toronto-HSE-ppp4075075.sympatico.ca): 11th Apr 2006 - 17:02 GMT

How do they do that? Who can make those types of decisions?
I know it's partly private property, but when building something don't you need permits?

jeeff: 11th Apr 2006 - 17:35 GMT

canada's constitution provides for 2 levels of government - federal and provincial. cities (municipal government) are a creature entirely of the province. cities have no constitutional authority, so in most cases they have few options to fight the province if the province wants to do something.

for example, back before toronto was amalgamated into the megacity, municipal politicians tried to get a legal injunction against the amalgamation, but the court found that cities had no authority to resist.

regional infrastructure (like airports) is managed by province-appointed bodies. in the case of the island airport, it's the toronto port authority (www.torontoport.com/), which reports directly to the province rather than the city. i was surprised that miller was able to successfully scuttle the original bridge plan, but he's a smart politician and he was able to take advantage of widespread public support and weak provincial government at the time.

anyway, it looks like they're not building a bridge after all, but instead are upgrading the ferry service. www.torontoport.com/airport_news_report_content.asp?id=253

S: 11th Apr 2006 - 21:26 GMT

I don't think it has anything to do with the bridge. It could have something to do with the ferry service. I only hope they can keep that ferry service afloat. They haven't had very much luck with that business.

Cameo: 11th Apr 2006 - 21:40 GMT

Thank you jeeff! That's quite a relief. Thanks for giving my widly speculating mind some rest.

anon (142.108.46.47): 20th Apr 2006 - 18:40 GMT

Actually, the Toronto Port Authority is a federal government body. All ports in Canada, sea and air, are controlled by the federal government.

jeeff: 20th Apr 2006 - 19:37 GMT

oh yeah, you're right. i got mixed up. federally-appointed.

cynic: 25th Apr 2006 - 02:03 GMT

When are they going to close the stupid airport, and leave the ferry for walkers and cyclists to more easily access the beaches on the island than from the other ferris? How obvious a solution is that? Imagine a campground, or open air concert venue on the islands. Do you think that side will be opened to the public, or remain an aiport or turn into condos or more marinas. Well, I guess your answer depends on whether you think votes or money buy more power.

Jorge: 14th Dec 2007 - 00:51 GMT

They are building a new bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, the most famous bridge architect... from Spain...