Will David Miller make the eco-choice?

News report: Former Toronto Mayor takes job in NYC

Former PM Brian Mulroney was fond of saying that “only donkeys don’t change their minds.” The appropriate line from the fellow who famously reversed his earlier opposition to Free Trade. Politics teaches you maturity. Now that David Miller will be commuting to New York City, the time is ripe for him to reconsider his refusal to utilize the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. I know that sounds like a stretch, given all that he did to undermine the airport’s success during his Mayoral tenure. But Mr. Miller’s reportedly put in an earring now that he’s out of office; obviously, anything is possible.

In case he’s not aware, things have changed at the airport since Mr. Miller had that Mel Lastman era bridge cancelled:

– monthly traffic is up from 2,200 passengers to ~120,000;
– two airlines now service the facility (Air Canada & Porter)
– there’s a new $50 million terminal
– state of the art emergency and snow removal equipment
– and a new, larger ferry (the Marilyn Bell I) to get back and forth to the Island
– a NEXUS machine was recently installed for passengers coming into Canada

According to Global, NYU’s announcement “touted Mr. Millar’s [sic] record of boosting Toronto’s ‘environmental sustainability’ and ‘social integration.'”

If Mr. Miller is going to fly down to NYC every week, and his commitment to environmental sustainability got him the job, just think of the unnecessary carbon footprint he’ll be generating if he chooses to fly from Pearson rather than Billy Bishop:

– the BBTCA uses 100% green electricity via Bullfrog Power;
– whether he’s coming from his home in Swansea or his Bay Street office at Aird & Berlis, the environmentally-friendly TTC will deliver him within a block of the Billy Bishop ferry passenger terminal (and the ferry runs on diesel); not so easy to do for a Pearson flight;
– there’s a quick and affordable light rail service to whisk him from Newark’s Liberty Airport to New York’s Penn Station…a short walk to the new digs at NYU. All the Pearson – Laugardia route has to offer is a stinky taxi that burns gasoline;
– Bombardier’s Q400 turboprops burn about 30% less fuel than the jets that fly out of Pearson. And those environmentally responsible Q400s were made by 4,500 CAW employees in Downsview, unlike the European Airbus 320s.

I wonder if any of his Polytechnic students will ask their new Lecturer how they can “focus on technological solutions to urban problems” if the man at the front of the room puts his own pride ahead of the making the right choice for the environment?

If it would help, I’d be happy to provide the TTC map, pay for the first flight, as well as the Liberty light rail train ticket.

MRM
(disclosure: this blog, as always, reflects a personal view and is not meant to represent the views of the TPA, its Board/Staff or the federal government)