Porter Airlines to expand Toronto island airport

The Canadian carrier Porter Airlines announced its plans to build a new $45-million terminal in Toronto’s downtown island airport.This new terminal will enhance the traffic carried by the airlines almost doubling it and also provide 300 infrastructure jobs while still taking care of the local environmental conditions, said President Robert Deluce.

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Transport Minister John Baird, and a representative of the Ontario government all congratulated the company for its new
investment that will see new levels of services and success.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be at an announcement where the federal government has no investment – there’s no taxpayers money in this building,” Flaherty was quoted as saying.

“It is a good news announcement that’s putting shovels in the ground… This is good for Toronto, it is good for Ontario and it’s good for our country.”

“I don’t think anyone has ever worked so hard and faced so many obstacles and overcome them and triumphed economically. The great airline that is Porter is providing a lot of great service,” said Baird.

While government officials are gung ho about the expansion plans, residents of Toronto’s Island are vehemently opposed to the expansion of the island airplort.

Protesters took to the street saying that they do not want airplanes to hover over their small cottages and pollute the air.

Addressing the pollution issue, Robert Deluce said, “An environmental assessment deemed the expansion would have no significant impact on the local community and added that his fleets of planes are designed for urban areas and emit low levels of noise.”

“I think we’re doing our part in every respect, particularly in regards to ensuring we approach this transportation hub with the utmost of concern and respect for the
environment and the community.” he added.

The first phase of the terminal expansion will be over by November 2009 including the building of new aircraft gates and offices.

By early 2010, the airport could be outfitted with a second passenger lounge, 10 bridged aircraft gates, and Canadian and US customs checkpoints.