President's Update

Hi everyone,

Lots to bring you up to date on this month.

GTAA Airport

As you all know there was a Town Hall meeting hosted by our politicians at Silverthorn CI on Saturday, May 27. We did a lot of advertising for this event and it was worth it. The auditorium was packed with standing room only. It was hosted by our MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, and with him on the stage were MPs of other constituencies affected by the planes. In the audience and speaking at the microphones were our MPP Yvan Baker and our Councillor Stephen Holyday. Representatives of the GTAA and NavCan (Navigation Canada), and the principal consultant for HELIOS were also on the stage. There are a number of messages one could take away from the meeting.

At the core of the GTAA and airplane noise is the manner in which the GTAA has related to surrounding communities, not just Markland Wood. GTAA and NAVCan representatives on the stage repeatedly heard these concerns expressed from the audience. People had had enough of poor communication and noise. So had the politicians. At the very bottom of the issue around airplane noise is that the GTAA was given a lease in the 1990’s by the Federal Government. With the lease, the GTTA is a relatively self-governing corporation. Generation of revenue would appear to be important, more important some say than community relations. Your MWHA would like the lease modified, and the GTAA brought back under the authority of the Federal Government. Some of the politicians called for greater civil oversight. Your MWHA agrees...