News Archives

19/04/07 - Pickering Council still says no to Pickering airport
Pickering City Council has officially restated its opposition to the proposed Pickering airport.Councillors introduced a motion reconfirming Council's support of a public and independent due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's (GTAA) Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering. Full Story

10/05/07 - Anti-airport activists rally - Voice concerns at Airport Authority's public meeting - An anti-Pickering-airport group has officially offered alternatives to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. Before the GTAA's annual public meeting on May 9, members of the Pickering-based anti-airport group, Land Over Landings, rallied in front of the Westin Bristol Place Hotel in Toronto.  Full Story

12/01/07 - Demolitions to resume on Pickering airport lands
The bulldozers will once again be making an appearance on the federal airport lands in Pickering. Transport Canada has given notice that 12 properties within the federally owned lands in Pickering and Markham will be destroyed.  Full Story

18/12/06 - Expropriated Mirabel land to be returned - In a move he called "correcting a historical injustice," Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Monday the return of 4,450 hectares of land expropriated a generation ago to build Mirabel airport. Full Story

03/11/06 -  Airport, agriculture preserve areas of interest for Ward 3 - The proposed Pickering airport may be an area of federal jurisdiction, but that didn't mean Ward 3 voters weren't interested in hearing their municipal candidates' thoughts on the issue. Full Story

22/09/06 - Response from Feds not good for those opposed to Pickering Airport -  In response to a letter from Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon confirming there would be no public input into the due diligence review of the GTAA's plan for an airport in Pickering, Stephen Frederick expressed his disappointment. Full Story

1/08/06 - Letter from Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon to MP Mark Holland - MP Mark Holland wrote to May 3, 2006 to Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon to raise a number of issues concerning the proposed  airport in north Pickering and treatment of tenants on the Pickering Lands. Letter from Transport Minister  

06/04/06 - Private Company to Maintain Federal Lands in Pickering  Change is coming to the federal lands in Pickering. SNC-Lavalin ProFac is taking over management of the federally-owned lands in Pickering from Public Works as of May 1. Full Story

21/02/06 - Mirabel Airport to be turned into Amusement Park
Montreal's large Mirabel Airport, recently closed to all passenger traffic, is to be turned into a giant amusement park on the themes of water and space. Full Story

07/09/06 - E-Mail to Community from MP Mark Holland with update on developments concerning the Pickering Lands and proposed Pickering Airport Read E-Mail

23/08/06 - MP's Patience being Tested by Minister's Silence on Airport - The transport minister could be looking at a war with the local MP on the airport front if he doesn't end his silence on the issue. Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland said he, and the community, want to work co-operatively with Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon on this important local issue, but the minister keeps "stonewalling," and he will only wait so long. Full Story

22/06/06 - Pickering Reiterates Demand for Say on Airport
Ward 3 City Councilor David Pickles introduced a motion at the June 19 council meeting requesting that the federal transport minister ensure the due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's plan provides an opportunity for Pickering council and interested members of the community to participate. Full Story

06/04/06 - Private Company to Maintain Federal Lands in Pickering
  Change is coming to the federal lands in Pickering. SNC-Lavalin ProFac is taking over management of the federally-owned lands in Pickering from Public Works as of May 1. Full Story

24/03/06 - GTAA annual loss grows to $118.3M from $112.3M
   The Greater Toronto Airports Authority said Friday its 2005 loss grew to$118.3 million from a year-ago $112.3 million as it booked expected depreciation expenses on new airport facilities recently brought into operation. Full Story

04/03/06 Old and New Fighters Unite!
 For the new players in the fight to stop a Pickering airport, the premiere screening of 'Last Stand' was inspiring. Not only did they find Peter Shatalow's documentary on the 34-year-old fight great, but for the members of Land Over Landings (LOL) and Voters Organized to Cancel the Airport Lands (VOCAL) it was also inspiring to see their heroes from the first fight both on the screen and in person. Full Story

21/02/06 - Mirabel Airport to be turned into Amusement Park
Montreal's large Mirabel Airport, recently closed to all passenger traffic, is to be turned into a giant
amusement park on the themes of water and space. Full Story

23/03/06 - Durhamregion.com -Roger Anderson visits Pickering council
 In terms of whether he supports the federal government following through on the peer review announced by the Liberals in September, Mr. Anderson said four have been done already. "I have no problem with a peer review," he said. Full Story

26/01/06 - Honour Government Commitment on Airport, Holland tells Conservatives
   Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland is calling on the new Conservative government to honour the commitments made by the former Liberal government concerning the proposed Pickering Airport and tenant issues. Full Story

 15/12/05 - Individuals Sought by Region for GTAA Board
 Durham Region is looking for people interested in being on the Greater Toronto Airports Authority board of directors. The Region is taking applications for the three-year terms, which begin in May. Three candidates will be considered by Durham council on Jan. 25. This is your chance! Full Story

07/12/05 - Toronto Star - Pickering Airport now an Election Issue
 The future of the airport lands is a hot button issue in Ajax-Pickering, ranking in importance with health care and surpassing in interest other concerns such as gun crime, taxes and the new deal for cities. Full Story

24/11/05 - Pickering Airs Concerns For Transport Canada
 V.O.C.A.L. asked and it received. The group's input was evident in the final motion carried by Pickering council Monday evening regarding Transport Canada's due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's plan for a proposed Pickering airport. Full Story

15/11/05 - Pearson's Woes Are Its Own Fault, says Transport Minister
 The Minister of Transport says the organization that runs Pearson Airport needs a better business plan. Jean Lapierre's comments come as the major airlines and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority met Tuesday to discuss fee hikes that may increase landing fees and make Pearson the most expensive airport in the world. Full Story

09/09/05 - Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today provided an update on planning initiatives related to the continued protection of the Pickering Lands for future aviation requirements. The Minister announced that Transport Canada would coordinate further study on the role of airports in the southern Ontario area in accommodating future air traffic growth.  Full Story

16/11/05 - Toronto Surpasses Tokyo With Highest Airline Landing Fees
 The Greater Toronto Airports Authority will raise landing fees at Toronto's Pearson International Airport 6.9 percent next year, making Canada's busiest airport the most expensive place to land in the world. Full Story

16/11/05 - Landing Fee Hike Makes Pearson The World's Costliest Airport
Citing high rent it must pay to the federal government, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) is again hiking the landing fees charged to airlines using Pearson International, a move that will make it the most expensive airport in the world. Full Story

15/11/05 - Pickering Defers Recommendation On Airport Review
 Despite the possibility of having no government to share its position with, Pickering has voted to defer its recommendation for Transport Canada's due diligence report on the plan for a Pickering airport. Full Story

15/11/05 - Airport And Federal Lands Topics Of Interest At MP Meeting
For Dan McTeague, the issue of tenancy on the airport lands is one of compromise, while the airport itself isn't needed -- yet. he issues surrounding the airport were discussed at the Pickering-Scarborough East MP's town hall meeting held at the Pickering Civic Complex Nov. 9. Of the 20 people who attended about a handful spoke, including two with concerns about airport-related issues. Full Story

15/11/05 - Pearson Airport To Raise Landing Fees
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority is expected to announce fee hikes for 2006 on Tuesday, cementing Toronto's Pearson International Airport's position as the world's most expensive airport at which to land. Full Story

14/11/05 - New Generation Of Rebels Uprise Peacefully - Airport Fights Goes Public In Brougham
 They mill about in the Brougham Hall receiving their last-minute instructions: the spirit of Brougham is there, as are the wives of the original rebels of the area. Also in attendance are the minister, children wearing sashes that read “future”, Land Over Landings (LOL) members carrying white wooden crosses, original People or Planes (POP) members, evictees with their notices around their necks, and those men who will carry the coffin. Full Story

10/11/05 -  Pickering Looking To Protect Heritage
In an effort to get Transport Minister Jean Lapierre to step in and save a significant piece of Pickering's heritage, council reaffirmed its position on the importance of Tullis Cottage. Ward 1 Regional Councillor Maurice Brenner introduced a motion this week to ask the minister of transport to withdraw the eviction notice against the Barclay family, descendents of Reverend George Barclay who built the home on Seventh Concession Road, just west of Brock Road. Full Story

09/11/05 - Some Question Timing Of Christmas Election
Laurie Barclay is hoping Canadians won't be going to the polls in the near future -- and it's not because she's worried it will conflict with her holidays. Ms. Barclay and her husband Gary are members of Land Over Landings, a group of concerned residents (most of them tenants of the Pickering federal lands) who've been fighting to not only save the Barclays' historic home -- Tullis cottage -- but also to prevent what they see as needless evictions and demolitions. Full Story

11/10/05 - Airspace Restrictions Official In Pickering
The airspace in the vicinity of the federal lands for a proposed airport in Pickering is now obstacle-free.
The Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations officially came into effect Sept. 26. Transport Canada initiated the process in July 1998 when it recognized the need to implement zoning regulations. The restrictions apply to certain lands adjacent to, and in the vicinity of, the federally-owned lands in Pickering, Markham and Uxbridge. Full Story

14/10/05 - Toronto Sun - BROUGHAM -- Sure is pretty up here, even on a damp day. But what's that smell? Fallen apples? No. Steeping maple leaves? No. Pumpkins? Nope. The bad smell. Yep. The Pickering airport. Nothing clings like a lousy idea. Full Story

09/09/05 - Holland Welcomes Federal Review of Airport Plans
A federal government review of plans for an airport in north Pickering is a welcome development, says Mark Holland, Member of Parliament, Ajax-Pickering. Full Story

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