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Mr. Wilson said the Port Authority will forge a public-private partnership to build the tunnel. He said, “well over a half-dozen firms of repute” have expressed interest in investing in the project, without disclosing their names. The bidding process will take place in the first quarter of 2011, he said.

Much of the money used to pay for the tunnel will come from the airport’s $20-per-fare improvement fee, Mr. Wilson said.



Councillor Adam Vaughan, a vocal opponent of the airport’s expansion, said the tunnel is a “pipe dream” that will not increase traffic to the terminal.

“I don’t think the tunnel is a viable proposition, he said. “There are a number of unanswered questions”

He said public support for tunnel to the island is dwindling because Toronto residents and tourists will not be able to use the pathway to access island beaches, residences and attractions.

On July 9, the Toronto Port Authority released a study conducted by Ipsos Reid claiming 56% of Torontonians who were sampled supported the link, down six percentage points from 2009.

Mr. Vaughan also said the Port Authority is unaccountable, and the claim that the construction of the tunnel will use no public money is dubious at best. “[The Toronto Port Authority] is a rogue federal agency spending taxpayers’ money,” he said.

The councillor said he believes Porter Airlines’ future growth at the airport is in jeopardy.

Porter Airlines, which, up until next fall, is the airport’s only tenant airline, had aimed to put forward an initial public offering of its stock this year, but cancelled its plans in June citing “unfavourable market conditions.”

Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce was unavailable for comment.

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