Federal Election 2021 – Where do your candidates stand?

airport and development

We received no response from Corneliu Chisu therefore we presume his position remains the same as when he was a Conservative MP and when he was a PPC candidate in 2019:

“We need the jobs for Durham Region and we need the airport to bring the jobs. I stand firmly for an airport” (Refer to this article)

agriculture and agritourism

“as the world climate changes we must preserve, research, study, implement current and ethical farming”

airport and development

“Like the Mayor and City Council of Pickering, I support the eventual construction of an airport in Pickering. I think this will bring good jobs and long-term development to our community. According to the most recent KPMG report a new airport may be needed in the GTA by the mid-2030s*. However, I suspect that this timeline has been impacted by the pandemic. There are also significant lands held by the federal government in excess of what would likely be required for an airport and I think we need to determine the best use for those lands whether that be further parkland, agriculture, housing, commercial, or some other use.”

*Fact check! The KPMG Study did not state that a new airport was needed, or when. Read more HERE. 

agriculture and agritourism

Jennifer O’Connell has been opposed to an airport and in favour of agriculture since her days on Pickering Council prior to becoming an MP. She has maintained this firm stance since going to Ottawa, offering a strong voice in opposition to a pro-airport Pickering Council.

“I’ve advocated for the protection of the federal Pickering Lands and investments in agriculture. Including the first long-term leases of 10 years protecting our farmland from the development of an airport.”

agriculture and agritourism

“Adding all or part of the lands to Rouge National Urban Park to ensure the agricultural land is protected in perpetuity.”

A: No, I do not.

agriculture and agritourism

Mark Holland has been opposed to an airport and in favour of agriculture and green infrastructure since he was Ajax-Pickering MP, and now in Ajax. He does not believe there has ever been a business case for an airport, and says KPMG did NOT support an airport.

agriculture and agritourism

“Even if the ‘great reset’ succeeds because we all did not push back hard enough, this additional large airport is not needed. Having good capabilities to produce food near the Toronto region is critical.”

airport and development

“I am for airport and development for economic reasons but I am still open to debate all sides. “

agriculture and agritourism

“I’ve been speaking with folks here in Markham and Stouffville and I haven’t had one person say that they want airplanes flying over their homes. The KPMG report states that there is no immediate need for an airport until 2038*. That said, folks need to remember that in 2015, the Liberals promised to permanently cancel the airport and that, like many of their promises never materialized**. It was a Conservative government that expanded the Rouge Park so that a potential airport could never expand into our riding. If elected, my number one priority would be to fight for the people of Markham-Stouffville. I’m not running to be Ottawa’s representative in our riding, I’m running to be a fighter for Markham-Stouffville in Ottawa. I know what I’m hearing at the doors – that is no to the Pickering Airport and I agree. If you elect me on September 20th, I’ll always listen to our community and act accordingly.”

*Fact check 1: KPMG did not state that an airport would be needed by 2038. The window of study was from 2016-2036. Read more HERE.

**Fact check 2: If only this were true, you can be sure we would remember — and be reminding them constantly! Sadly, no such promise was ever made. 

agriculture and agritourism

“If re-elected I will continue to advocate for the residents of Markham-Stouffville on this issue, and oppose the potential Pickering airport. I have heard consistently from constituents that they do not want this. After a three-year study, released by Transport Canada in 2020, they concluded that there’s no business case to support the immediate development of an airport on the Pickering lands.”

(Quoted from this article)

agriculture and agritourism

“I believe the province master plan has already approved an international airport in Ajax which will be ready by 2030, if I’m not wrong*. This will be sufficient to cater Pickering Oshawa and further east. Subsequently it’ll taking load of Pearson at west end. I personally believe the natural existence of that area should be preserved and provide some attractions for tourists and sure for agriculture.”

*Fact check: the province has not already approved an airport, nor does it have the jurisdiction to.

agriculture and agritourism

We did not receive a response from Anandasangaree’s campaign team, however, during his time as MP, Gary Anandasangaree has been very supportive of Land Over Landings.

agriculture and agritourism

agriculture and agritourism

agriculture and agritourism

“People over planes and land over landings. Transforming land use to complete sustainability is an essential responsibility in our fight against the Climate Emergency.”

agriculture and agritourism

airport and development

“My primary concern is with Oshawa. I believe we should use the current Airport in Oshawa to the best of its capabilities. This might be a better solution and work for all stake holders in the region.”

agriculture and agritourism

“I am a strong supporter of the farming sector and food security in Canada. I am a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, micro-farmer and follower of Regenerative Farming practices and the work of Dr. Zack Bush. I believe that farmers are critical to the health of our country and need to be rewarded fairly for their work and encouraged with incentives to use fewer chemical inputs. I also strongly oppose the carbon tax as this will have a negative impact on our farmers. I will promote food security and buy local if elected and will listen to farmers and ensure their voice is heard in Durham.”

agriculture and agritourism

“I absolutely support using the land for agriculture and agritourism. Not only did the KPMG study highlight the lack of need for a new airport to be constructed in Pickering, the lack of climate analysis in the studies deeply disturbs me. If we are to get serious about combatting climate change, we have to recognize that everything we do, at every level of government, has a role to play. To not even consider the environmental implications of not only the construction of a new airport, but also the creation of additional air traffic indicates that Transport Canada still has a lot of progress to be made.”

airport and development

While the Leader of the CPC did not respond, he has always supported the building of an airport. We believe his position remains the same as in this 2019 interview.

https://durhampost.ca/pickering-to-be-gtas-engine-of-growth-mp-otoole

“The other key thing for the Durham Region is the Pickering Airport. There’s tremendous opportunity with the economic lands that are adjacent to what will become the future airport site. That was another thing the conservative government moved forward on and it holds huge potential for not just the Durham Region, but all of Southern Ontario. It’s been stalled under Justin Trudeau, but we really believe that there’s huge economic opportunity not just with the airport itself, but the economic land adjacent to it that have rail, 407 Highway, and, potential for an airport. So, the opportunities of location where we are in North America along with those assets, and a highly skilled educated workforce, are the ingredients for success.

The airport itself we approved the site. We gave some of the lands to the Rouge National Urban Park. We gave some lands to the economic development…and then dedicated some area for the airport. The airport itself would likely be in the early 2030s… these are based on approximations.

But, in the 2020s, the planning the staging and construction would need to take place or at least the investments towards that. But the economic lands adjacent, could start moving forward in the next few years.

The progress has really slowed under the Trudeau government. We took a lot of time to make sure that some of the lands were provided for the park, some of the lands were provided for development, and then the airport approval itself, was made. For context, those lands called the Pickering Lands, were expropriated [laughs] before I was born by Pierre Elliott Trudeau. And then nothing happened.

And there really was no need for all those decades for a second airport. But now as Pearson is getting close to its max out, and with the GTA growing in a major way in the last two decades, there is a need for a secondary, a smaller airport. But it could be a very focused airport in terms of specific destination travel or even some cargo capacity. So, there’s huge potential and there will be a need on that time frame.”

agriculture and agritourism

“A Rhino Party Government will do both! An agri-airport, where an airport will be used to export all kinds of foods all over the world to create 150,000 jobs in Durham”