Toronto | Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat — Yesterday, Environmental Defence submitted a formal complaint to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada calling for an investigation into all lobbying by Nieuport Aviation and its hired consultants regarding the future of the Toronto Island Airport, following a Toronto Star report that Nieuport Aviation failed to disclose it is controlled by J.P. Morgan.

“We’ve known for over a decade that expanding the Island Airport to accommodate jets would block much-needed affordable housing, increase noise and air pollution, and bring debilitating traffic to Toronto’s waterfront,” said Phil Pothen, Counsel for Environmental Defence.

“The Star’s compelling allegation that Nieuport Aviation is controlled by a U.S.-based entity is one more reason to oppose turning the Island Airport into Pearson-on-the-Lake,” said Pothen. “Canadians deserve to know who’s pulling the strings and what they stand to gain. Commissioner Bélanger should report to Parliament, in detail and full public view, the identities of all Nieuport’s underlying owners and investors, the specifics of how it is controlled, and the details of everything it has been saying to officials about the Toronto Island Airport.”

In addition to pollution and traffic concerns, turning the Toronto Island Airport into a jet airport means filling in parts of Lake Ontario, and likely damaging the Toronto Islands and mainland parks. Even leaving the door open to the possibility that the federal government might turn the Island Airport into a jet airport would mean thousands of partly federally funded affordable homes in Toronto’s Ookwemin Minising neighbourhood wouldn’t get built.

“A jet runway on the Island is undoubtedly a destructive idea, regardless of who owns airport facilities,” said Pothen. “But proposing such a project — with indications of U.S. control — during a time of heightened focus on protecting Canada and Canadians is shocking and unwelcome. Prime Minister Carney and Minister MacKinnon already have all the information they need to say ‘no’ to jets on Toronto’s waterfront. These alleged violations of Canada’s lobbying law are just one more reason not to expand the Toronto Island Airport.”

BACKGROUND: 

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Erinn Steringa, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca