hen this little airport was built in 1939 (then known as the Port George VI Airfield) who knew that it would become the focal point of such heated dispute and, interestingly enough, come to represent such a distressing aspect of the city that we call home? The harrowing happenings at our little Island Airport can no longer be ignored.

For those who are just catching up, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) currently owns and operates the Toronto City Centre Airport. In 1983, due to just concerns from the general populous over noise and air pollution, an agreement was made, between the City of Toronto, the Toronto Harbour Commission (now the TPA) and the federal government, to restrict the use of the airport. This agreement allowed for the traffic of MEDEVAC flights (on account of the proximity to the city’s hospitals), but not for the creation of a physical conduit in the form of a bridge from the island to the mainland.

Since the airport has consistently required financial assistance from the government to stay afloat, the TPA has been adamantly pushing for an expansion that would accommodate up to 900 000 passengers annually (instead of the current 80 000).

With the arrival of Porter Airlines (a subsidiary of REGCO Holdings), plans for a serious expansion of the airport were accordingly, let’s say, refueled. Henceforth, the company proposed to acquire Q400 turboprop aircraft in order to provide for increased flight service from the airport once the plans for the bridge between the island and the mainland were in place. However, these plans (given the go-ahead by Mel Lastman in 2002), were astoundingly revoked (phew!) by the federal government in 2004.

But just when you thought you could breathe easy again, REGCO Holdings proceeded to order 10 Bombardier Q400 Aircraft and, in early 2006, began renovations on the terminal buildings (including the oh so conceivable eviction of Air Canada). Also, they began construction of a larger, sturdier ferry for the accommodation of higher traffic. However, in yet another shocking development, Air Canada (Jazz), using the Stolport Corporation Facilities, has since resumed flights from the airport.

Oh the drama!