Toronto's Bird Population is in Danger

[rocklakemama]

Hello,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upb5WoTfAq8

I was wondering if you would please share the link above (a very short Youtube video of a city council meeting regarding the effect on the bird population of a waterfront airport expansion in Toronto).

If for no other reason, Toronto waterfront's Billy Bishop Airport should not allow jets to land because of the devastating effects such a change will have on the local and migrating bird populations. The video clearly explains how important the area is to birds migrating north and south across the Great Lakes; that the jet planes are more dangerous to birds, and vice versa; and that the Toronto Port Authority will eventually begin controlling the bird population on the Toronto Islands and Tommy Thompson park across the harbour by CULLING POPULATIONS AND TAMPERING WITH BIRD ENVIRONMENTS, which will affect resident water birds as well as environments for transient song birds migrating through the area.

Please contact http://www.nojetsto.ca[url] to give them your support!

Anything you can do to bring this issue to the attention of other birders and those who care about our green spaces and waterways is greatly appreciated.

[Leslie]

According to the TRCA spokeswoman on the YouTube clip, if jets are allowed in the island airport, the risk to people of bird strikes is so great that the Leslie Street Spit will probably have to be destroyed in order to effectively discourage waterfowl.  This is in spite of strong provincial designations intended to protect it.  (I do urge you to hear the clip yourself.)
The City of Toronto's executive committee is meeting to discuss the issue next Tuesday, March 25, and Council will discuss it April 1.
Please send an email with your concerns to the executive committee before the meeting.  Choose the Submit Comments icon on the web page:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaI ... 014.EX40.1
You may wish to attend the meeting.  If you wish to speak (five minutes is the standard limitation), you will find an icon to make this request on the above page.
You should also inform your councillor of your opinion.  Feel free to contact all the others as well.  Find your councillor and contact information on the City's web page:
http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp

[rocklakemama]

Thanks for the info, Leslie! I just sent the email.

Your link regarding the Executive Committee meeting on March 25 didn't work, but I looked up the address. The email should be sent to:

exc@toronto.ca

Subject: EX40.1 - March 25 Executive Committee Meeting regarding Tripartite Agreement for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

To: Secretariat and All Members of Executive Committee of the City of Toronto