1998 – Pickering Airport
SIMON: It was a controversial project that spanned almost a century. In 1972, the Trudeau Government had expropriated a piece of farmland in North Pickering for a future airport, as a proposed plan to close Pearson Airport back then. Almost 30 years ago, the residents are still fighting against the plan, as we go back to this story back in 1998, a coalition formed by a group of people would not rest the case. As Newswatch reported at the time, its controversy was noisy.
[Cut to protestors yelling in background]
REPORTER: Tensions mount high as residents along with the Voters Organized to Cancel the Pickering Airport Lands, aka VOCAL continued to fight against the proposed Pickering Airport. The land, located in a small community of Brougham was very controversial. One resident who lived in the area for many years were shocked by the current process the government had treated her.
RESIDENT: I couldn’t get myself to sleep almost everyday and I still have to pay for the land I owe to the federal government. Next up, they are going to evict me from my property.
[Cut to various shots of the lands, which No Trespassing signs in English and French]
REPORTER: In the 1970s, the Federal government under Pierre Trudeau made a study on where the new airport should be built. The report narrowed down 59 sites, but Pickering wasn’t among them at that time. The government then decided to move forward on a piece of land located in North Pickering, despite the report indicates that Pickering was eliminated from the shortlist.
That’s when in 1972, the Provincial and Federal governments moved forward on announcing new plans for a proposed airport. This has sparked a protest against the government on stopping the proposed lands for many years. Months later, expropriation notices began and the houses were torn down gradually.
[Cut to various clips of file footage of a protester dressing in a KKK-like wardrobe, complete with street plays by various people]
Many people lost their land which they had cherished for generations, others ran away. Others meanwhile fought the proposal. It took three and a half years of fighting until the government shelves the plan after a report released in 1975.
[Cut to a protester announcing at the airport lands which torn down houses in background]
PROTESTER: WE CLEAR THESE LANDS! WE MADE FARMS! WE MADE COMMUNITIES! WITHOUT SCHOOLS, WE MADE A HOME FOR OURSELVES IN OUR COMMUNITIES HERE! WE WORKED HARD BUT THE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T LIKE WE GET THINGS OUT HERE IN RADICAL CORNERS! THAT’S WHAT THEY CALLED US AND IN 1837 CAME, WE MARCHED TO TORONTO AND MY SONS WERE ARRESTED, AND OUR MEN FOLK WERE ARRESTED, AND HER HUSBAND PETER MATTHEWS WAS HANGED BY THE GOVERNMENT!
RESIDENT #2: We don’t want another Mirabel in our backyard. Ever.
REPORTER: Montreal’s second airport located in a northern community of Mirabel opened in 1975 but at a greater expense than the original budget.
[Cut to protesters getting off school bus at night]
REPORTER: Protesters made their grand entry towards Pickering Town Hall.
PROTESTERS: We’re VOCAL, No Airport! We’re VOCAL, No Airport! [Chanting continues]
[As the protesters enter town hall, two men were holding a large banner marked, “V.O.C.A.L., Voters Organized to Cancel the Airport Lands”, with the “O” as a No symbol over an airport sign]
REPORTER: As the voices get louder and louder by the minute, the tension is building. Police were on hand making sure nothing went hostile. [Cut to protesters at the front doors of town hall, with chanting continues]
VOCAL Organizer: WE ARE VOCAL –
PROTESTERS: NO AIRPORT!
VOCAL Organizer: WE ARE VOCAL –
PROTESTERS: NO AIRPORT!
REPORTER: Meanwhile at the town hall, councilors were wondering, what was the commotion is about.
[Cut to outside town hall]
VOCAL Organizer: The business of this meeting is for the Town of Pickering, to reinstate and to reinforce the opposition that is has always had. We have clear indication from them that they are willing to do that, and what we wanted to do is to go in and show the federal officials and the provincial officials who so far have not come to the table, but we’re VOCAL and we want no airport! WE’RE VOCAL, NO AIRPORT [Protesters join in]
[Chanting continues]
REPORTER: Suddenly a change of plan by the police.
[Cut to police officer]
POLICE OFFICER: You are doing a good job, sir, [inaudible], but at the same time, when you know – everyone’s welcome in, okay, but at the same time, no signs, no [inaudible], keep it reasonable. Okay, because people will be asked to leave and they will be escorted out.
[Cut to a full crowd at town hall]
REPORTER: The protesters eventually comply with the police, but they continue to chant. People range from to 6 months, to 80 years joined in the fight. Even the councilors stepped in. [Cut to the town council chamber with people throwing paper airplanes in the background, applauses]
MARK HOLLAND: My community members are working hard against the proposal that almost existed for 20 or 30 years and we will not rest until the federal government matters are resolved! We also sent a request to the federal minister of transport for the review.
REPORTER: Many people who lived in the area for years will not stand a chance; they will still continue to fight against the airport proposal until the federal government steps in. The bulldozing of houses being torn down will most likely to continue after eviction notes are handed out. In Brougham, Ian Hympus, NewsWatch.
SIMON: The GTAA or Greater Toronto Airport Authority currently owns the Pickering airport lands and has a site office located in North Pickering. As for the fate of Pearson Airport turned out, the airport recently completed a multi-billion dollar expansion to the entire airport terminal. In a report back in November 2004, the authority has released a final report that an airport will cost $2 billion. Mark Holland, now a Member of Parliament of Ajax-Pickering along with the VOCAL organizers continues to fight against the new Pickering Airport to this day. The Mirabel airport meanwhile has since ceased passenger operations. The airport now handles mainly cargo flights. As for the future of the Pickering Airport, the final decision won’t come through until 2009. Next week, we’ll go back in time when electronic payments were new. See you then.
