In what seems as much like a tense stand off as anything else, the forces of Porter Airlines and NoJets Toronto are both spinning today’s City Council decision as a victory. In an odd outcome, Council voted 44-0 for a staff report that contains many conditions for jets to go wheels down at Billy Bishop Airport. Noise, pollution, traffic and other elements must be probed and the results found acceptable before the City would proceed. The timing of this action by Council is said to make it certain that no further debate or vote will occur until after a new mayor and council are elected. NoJets TO made it clear on its website tonight that it will make the Porter application an election issue. Tonight’s outcome would seem to offer even greater definition between mayoral candidate Olivia Chow and the other candidates. She is the only one who has expressed clear opposition to jets on the island. Deputy Mayor Kelly, an open advocate of the Porter plan, said the “modernization” of the airport is still alive and that he too considers the vote today a victory. NoJets TO
