Yesterday many people, including members of the Ontario provincial cabinet, were shocked to hear an announcement by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty that an airport will be built on what are called the Pickering Lands.This is a significant area of farmland and woodland -18,600 acres -in the midst of the urban sprawl at the east end of the Greater Toronto Area. This land was expropriated for an airport 40 years ago and I remember the controversy well because I was in my teens and living in nearby Brooklin. Several farmers in the congregation my father served as minister had their land expropriated, although they continued to work it for decades.
The announcement was that 5,000 acres will be part of the new Rouge Valley National Park, which is an important decision to expand a unique urban park. But many hoped that the remaining land would remain as prime farmland and protected areas. I have written before about the streams flowing out of this area into Lake Ontario and the exceptional water quality compared to other waterways. The "hold" on development has meant the continued existence of an area with an abundance of wildlife and productive, tilled land. Now an airport will be constructed which may not really be needed. I shudder at the thought of the addition of a major airport, the 407 highway extension, and the Clarington incinerator in terms of air quality for the region.
When I was in Oshawa/Clarington Presbytery we heard a presentation from the Lands Over Landings group http://www.landoverlandings.com/ which has persistently resisted development of these lands. We supported their efforts, believing that as Christians it is our responsibility to speak up against the relentless pressure to pave over and build over Southern Ontario. The presentation was at the United Church in Claremont, the community where the hastily called press conference was held yesterday.
I am discouraged by a government which seems to run roughshod over any concerns and does not see fit to consult provincial counterparts. I muttered at the television later in the evening when I saw yet another Economic Action Plan commercials praising the federal government's great environmental record. Do you notice Mr. Flaherty's podium message of "responsible, balanced growth." Are these pathetic attempts to brainwash Canadians? Honestly!
Well, you won't have any trouble figuring out how I feel about this announcement. How do you feel?
In 1972 when the Airport was first proposed I got to go to lots of protests. My father's family comes from Claremont. I was 11/12, I loved those protests, music, speakers, walks, everyone was involved. I still have many People or Planes, stop the airport buttons. I guess it is time to drag them out and start protesting again.
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