Focus On The Lands, 2017-2018

(op-ed) Our Chair delivers the reasons why a Pickering airport must be renounced.DurhamRegion.com

Company to consult public on Pickering 407 lands, airport

Publication Date: May 25, 2018

The City of Pickering launches its $150,000 "pure typo" public consultation study about a Pickering airport, while not calling it that.DurhamRegion.com

Talk centres around airport at Pickering lunch

Publication Date: May 1, 2018

Our Mayor continues to pitch Pickering airport. A pity he chose not to come to our Ag Study release, where he could have heard all about an alternative that has a lot more chance of happening. (Note: Mr van’t Hof has been nominated as Durham Region's representative on the GTAA's Board of Directors.)DurhamRegion.com

Talk centres around airport at Pickering lunch

Publication Date: May 1, 2018

Pickering’s Mayor continues to pitch Pickering airport. (Mr van’t Hof is the Durham Region nominee for the GTAA Board of Directors.)DurhamRegion.com

No sparks at Ajax-Pickering board of trade mayors’ breakfast

Publication Date: April 18, 2018

Our Mayor sings the same old airport refrain.DurhamRegion.com

Study supports agriculture vision for airport lands

Publication Date: April 17, 2018

Ontario Farmer's excellent write-up on our recent Ag Study release.Ontariofarmer.com

The GO Train to farm country?

Publication Date: April 10, 2018

Tags: Environment, Food/Water/Agriculture

More excellent coverage on the release of the Ag. Study. This writer sees the possibilities!!Alternatives Journal

The ghost of the Pickering airport

Publication Date: April 6, 2018

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Historical

(letter to the editor) Writer objects to latest housing demolitions on the remaining Federal Lands.DurhamRegion.com

Land Over Landings releases Federal Lands agricultural study

Publication Date: April 5, 2018

Still more great coverage of the launch of our Ag. Study. Other articles appeared in durhamregion.com and yorkregion,com, and the global anti-airport campaign, GAAM, tweeted out our news too.Uxbridge Cosmos

Study finds agriculture ideal for Pickering federal lands

Publication Date: April 4, 2018

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Climate Change, Environment, Food/Water/Agriculture

Our Ag Study was officially released yesterday, April 3. It’s already making the news!DurhamRegion.com

TRCA Report Cards

Publication Date: March 15, 2018

Tags: Environment, Food/Water/Agriculture

Toronto Region Conservation Authority has released watershed report cards. Duffins Creek continues to score relatively well.TRCA

Release of the final Agricultural System map

Publication Date: February 9, 2018

The Ontario government has used numerous databases to map "what exists on the ground today" for the entire Greater Golden Horseshoe, indicating three major features: settlements, prime agricultural and other rural areas, and natural heritage areas. The salient point for our purposes is that, effective February 9, 2018, Ontario has declared all of Pickering north of Highway 7 as a permanent prime agricultural area, except for the currently recognized settlements at Green River, Brougham, Claremont, Greenwood, Balsam, and Kinsale. This doesn't solve our problems; a previously announced federal expropriation for an airport takes land-use precedence. However, land use planning is under the jurisdiction of the provinces. If the federal government declares the airport expropriation an abandoned project or decides not to use some of the expropriated land for an airport, the custom is to defer to provincial land-use planning. Ontario's wishes now cannot be clearer: north Pickering is permanent farmland.OMAFRA

Time to stop misleading Pickering residents about airport jobs

Publication Date: January 18, 2018

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Climate Change

(op-ed) Our Chair lays out the facts.durhamregion.com

Potential airport is Pickering’s newsmaker of the year

Publication Date: January 4, 2018

(editorial) And it’s not because this airport is finally happening. It’s because we tracked the City of Pickering every step of the way, writing op-eds and letters to get the facts out, doing interviews, addressing Council, alerting residents who then packed the Council Chambers whenever there were attempts to push pro-airport motions through… We can rightly take credit for this “award.”durhamregion.com

Bill Lishman loved to fly with the birds

Publication Date: January 3, 2018

We mourn the passing of Dr William (Bill) Lishman, M.S.M., LL.D. (February 12, 1939 – December 30, 2017) -- a creative genius, original member of People or Planes, member and friend of Land Over Landings. And so much more than that. A terrible loss.Globe and Mail

Bill Lishman taught birds to fly with him, thought outside the box

Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Remembering Bill.thestar.com

The Pickering Airport, Part 1

Publication Date: January 1, 2018

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Historical

In the January 2018 issue of On the Road, the Whitchurch-Stouffville Economic Development Office has published a fascinating history of the early days of the proposed Pickering airport from a Stouffville perspective.Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

A Christmas wish list for Durham Region

Publication Date: December 21, 2017

(editorial) Our local media's editorial position on Pickering airport at the end of the year.Oshawa This Week / durhamregion.com

Pickering Council meeting report

Publication Date: December 7, 2017

You Had to be There Dept. While durhamregon.com covered the meeting’s exchange regarding Staff’s having made reference in a letter to “Pickering International Airport,” the article omitted to report (or even hint at) our Treasurer's synopsis of the GTAA's new Master Plan, showing that Pearson will not be going "full" in the next 20 years, and still has a sixth runway to build if that point is ever reached. Within 5 minutes, he destroyed Pickering's desperate campaign for an airport to provide local economic development and thousands of jobs. The minute-taker captured it. City of Pickering Minutes

Pickering referral to “Pickering International Airport” raises ire

Publication Date: December 6, 2017

Pickering Councillors unhappy that City staff were caught misstating facts once again.durhamregion.com

Pickering’s referral to Pickering International Airport pushes residents’ buttons

Publication Date: December 6, 2017

Pickering Councillors unhappy that City staff have been caught misstating facts once again.durhamregion.com

Pickering claims airport study plan a typo

Publication Date: November 28, 2017

Local coverage of last week's Pickering "typo" story.durhamregion.com

Pickering claims airport study plan was a typo

Publication Date: November 28, 2017

Local coverage of last week's Pickering "typo" story.durhamregion.com

The $150K Pickering Airport feasibility study a “pure typo”

Publication Date: November 24, 2017

Some "typo"! Pickering's Chief Administrative Officer blames his staff for mistakenly typing "Pickering Airport Feasibility Study" when they really meant to type "a public engagement initiative on the Economic and Employment Impact within the Highway 407 Corridor, which includes the Pickering Innovation Corridor and the potential airport in Pickering" as a $150,000 recommended development charge in the 2018 budget. He has dug himself in deeper by saying that the $150,000 is really being spent to "seek feedback from residents about both sites, even if the airport hasn't been approved." Is Pickering awash in tax money despite Council’s statements to the contrary?CBC News

Airports noisy and pose dangers to surrounding communities

Publication Date: November 20, 2017

(letter to the editor) Letter-writer says that an airport lowers the quality of life for area residents.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering’s stance on airport doesn’t change game plan: MP

Publication Date: October 25, 2017

MP Jennifer O'Connell says that current federal government policy remains unchanged by Pickering Council's advocacy for a Pickering airport.DurhamRegion.com

Reader sees Pickering airport as necessary in future

Publication Date: October 19, 2017

(letter to the editor) Letter-writer believes Pickering airport is needed.DurhamRegion.com

Agriculture, not an airport, is the future

Publication Date: October 19, 2017

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Climate Change, Food/Water/Agriculture

In an op-ed, our Chair refutes arguments heard at Pickering Council on October 10 and writes that, in the future, our local jobs will be provided by agriculture and tourism, not an airport.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering: An airport won’t necessarily employ Durham residents

Publication Date: October 12, 2017

(letter to the editor) Dr Trish Spindel responds to letter-writer Joe Robinson (Oct. 10), explaining in detail why a Pickering airport won't necessarily employ current Durham Region residents.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering council votes to bid for Amazon, supports airport

Publication Date: October 11, 2017

Pickering wants Amazon's second headquarters within Seaton employment lands, and slips the non-existent Pickering airport into the bid recommendations without notice to constituents (other than some airport supporters). The vote passes – an historic about-face by Council – even though Pearson meets Amazon’s stated requirements and a Pickering airport isn't needed.DurhamRegion.com

City of Pickering Media Release on airport vote

Publication Date: October 11, 2017

Count the facts, if you can find any…City of Pickering Media Centre

Farmland provides very few jobs in Ontario says reader

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

(letter to the editor) Writer Joe Robinson is tired of reading “the nonsense about the Pickering airport lands” and how “these people” go on about the prime farmland able to provide food and jobs. He sees the future in an airport. more warehouses, and an expanded GM.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering Council’s Oct. 10 Agenda

Publication Date: October 10, 2017

Staff’s report on which the airport vote was held. See pp. 25-33.City of Pickering

Provincial minister touts Pickering airport as possible aerospace hub

Publication Date: September 29, 2017

A year ago, Dr Polonsky reported that "The Government of Ontario does not have an official position on the future development of the Pickering Lands." Now it does? Or is this a red herring?DurhamRegion.com

Readers continue to respond to Pickering mayor’s airport position

Publication Date: September 15, 2017

An updated compilation (to September 15 so far) of readers' responses to the August 23 pro-airport op-ed piece by Pickering’s Mayor Ryan.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering wants to be Amazon’s second home

Publication Date: September 13, 2017

Pickering’s mayor thinks that Seaton “would be the perfect host” for Amazon's second headquarters, offering accommodation for “50,000 employees.” The mayor even offers the mirage of a never-never airport! He seems untroubled by Amazon’s notorious labour practices and appears to have no qualms over inviting them to be inflicted on Pickering residents.DurhamRegion.com

Durham’s regional chair talks airport among projects for Pickering

Publication Date: September 12, 2017

Roger Anderson still thinks that building an airport will drive economic development. When is he going to do his homework?!DurhamRegion.com

Pickering airport, funding-formula changes are key to region’s future: chair

Publication Date: September 6, 2017

Durham Regional Chair joins the chorus, except he says that Pickering airport will create 40,000 jobs while Pickering’s Mayor quotes different numbers.Oshawa Express

Readers respond to Pickering mayor’s position

Publication Date: August 24, 2017

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Climate Change, Environment, Food/Water/Agriculture

Readers respond to the August 23 op-ed piece by Pickering’s Mayor Ryan.DurhamRegion.com

Pickering mayor: Recouping Canada’s $150 million investment

Publication Date: August 23, 2017

Our mayor is back to shilling for a Pickering airport.DurhamRegion.com

Ottawa spends $150M to maintain land being held for Pickering airport

Publication Date: July 30, 2017

Tags: Aviation/Airports, Environment, Historical

The ruining of infrastructure on the Federal Lands has been hugely costly to the taxpayer.thestar.com

Federal minister’s visit appreciated by Land Over Landings

Publication Date: July 27, 2017

(letter to the editor) Our Chair thanks the editor but takes issue with how the Pickering News-Advertiser's recent coverage of Minister Morneau's visit to Joyfully Organic Farm was reported.DurhamRegion.com

Federal finance minister tours Pickering, Uxbridge

Publication Date: July 26, 2017

Local news coverage (neither accurate nor all-inclusive) of Finance Minister Bill Morneau's visit to Joyfully Organic farm at the Almack property, Claremont. We were on the agenda and unveiled our illustrated map of the “North Pickering Farms” vision.DurhamRegion.com

Agricultural system for the Greater Golden Horseshoe

Publication Date: July 14, 2017

Ontario intends to protect the farmland on the entire proposed Pickering airport site as part of its newly announced "agricultural system" draft plan for the GGH. The Crombie Commission had recommended that Ontario (a) recognise the strategic importance of agriculture to its economy and (b) protect its prime farmland and the infrastructure supporting agriculture to ensure the long-term economic viability of the farms and rural communities. OMAFRA has taken the first step, releasing a draft map of the prime agricultural areas and agri-food infrastructure identified to receive "Greenbelt-like protection" by land-use planners in the GGH. A 90-day public consultation period (ends Oct. 4) has been opened on the proposed agricultural land base map. Because the land was expropriated for a "major, international airport", the federal government has the authority to use the Federal Lands for an airport. But for any use other than an airport, Ottawa has traditionally deferred to provincial authority. About a third of the remaining Federal Lands has been within the provincial Greenbelt/Oak Ridges Moraine plan since 2005. If the proposed prime agricultural area designation is implemented, Ontario's direction to land-use planners will be that these lands must be preserved for agriculture/natural green space, if not used for an airport.
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Mirabel Business Incubator

Publication Date: July 1, 2017