The Federal government announced last month it will pay out $35M of taxpayers’ money to the Toronto Port Authority to compensate for not building a bridge to Toronto City Centre Airport.
Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre said in a press release, a settlement agreement has been reached with the Toronto Port Authority to resolve outstanding legal issues that arose following the decision to prohibit construction of a fixed link to the Toronto City Centre Airport.
Specifically, the settlement provides for compensation to address the financial implications of not proceeding with the construction of the fixed link to the Toronto City Centre Airport.
The settlement includes payment of $35 million by the Government of Canada to the Toronto Port Authority and stipulates that the authority will grant a full and final release to the Government of Canada and obtain similar releases from the affected third parties for the Government of Canada.
COPA is outraged over this settlement which is costing Canadians millions of dollars, but more specifically the settlement casts a dark cloud over the future of Toronto City Centre Airport.
Immediately following the announcement, COPA President/CEO Kevin Psutka fired off the following letter to Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre:
I am disgusted to read the political spin that has been put on the settlement of the City Centre fixed link. The affect of its loss on the future of the airport is not mentioned, nor was the strong opposition to its elimination.
The elimination of a fixed link option for City Centre Airport may have been "positive" for a minority of vocal people who are opposed to the airport, but the loss of this option will strangle the airport and may set the stage for its eventual closure.
The loss of this transportation asset is truly a disaster. The airport is a political pawn and you have helped further a political agenda that is not in the best interests of the citizens of Toronto and of Canada.