Good morning.

I want to thank Transport Canada officials for appearing here on the study of regional airports.

We know that there are significant issues that have led to small and regional airports like Buttonville closing. Instead of getting new airports built to fill that void, we are seeing very concerning negligence on the part of Transport Canada and the Minister of Transport.

The proponents of the Baldwin East Aerodrome have received approval from Transport Canada to dump thousands of tonnes of fill on protected wetlands under the guise of constructing an aerodrome, even though they have been charged with provincial offences relating to the dumping of contaminated fill. These proponents are currently subject to hearings under the Ontario Environmental Protection Act.

In a recent quote from the proceedings, “The modus operandi of Wilfred Goldlust appears to be to accept contaminated soil while suggesting to the generator that the waste will be disposed in an approved landfill then misrepresenting the waste as clean fill and depositing it on properties not approved to receive waste. Wilfred Goldlust frequently changes the names and/or locations of his companies and most recently appears to be using numbered companies as a front. While enforcement action is taken against his company, Wilfred Goldlust is uncooperative and prefers to fight the enforcement actions rather than addressing the matter.”

One of these companies is supposedly building an aerodrome in Georgina. I represent the great riding of York-Simcoe—the soup and salad bowl of Canada—where they clearly plan to dump fill and leave the land to ruin once they've made their money from tipping fees. Transport Canada is well aware of this. The Minister of Transport is well aware of it, and may I say, this is the second minister of transport whom I've dealt with on this issue.

He has been informed on numerous occasions—by the Government of Ontario, the municipalities, the FCM and the Chippewas of Georgina Island—about their limitations of enforcing their laws and bylaws with regard to federally regulated aerodromes. I'll say that again: These are federally regulated aerodromes.

My question today to transport officials is this: Why has this project not been stopped, since it is clearly not in the public interest in my community?

Scot Davidson

$508,785.00