Many regional airports are owned by the municipalities in which they operate. The Pitt Meadows Regional Airport (YPK) in BC, for example, is jointly owned by the Cities of Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.

This means the mayors and councillors you elect can play a key role in deciding the direction and scale of airport development — including how much lead pollution airport operations create.

Learn if your City owns or operates a regional airport

Parents have every right to ask: Why are we still accepting a source of airborne lead in communities where children live, learn and play?

Residents have every right to ask: Why should recreational flying and flight training be allowed to spread toxic lead over our homes, schools, farms, and parks?

Canadian families already shoulder enough financial pressures without also being asked to subsidize recreational flying and flight training by accepting the health risks associated with a transportation fuel that was removed from cars decades ago.

Local governments have a responsibility to protect the health of people living in their communities. Urge your mayor and councillors to act.

They can ensure airport development and operations don't expand lead pollution while communities wait for cleaner aviation fuels. 

They can champion the transition to cleaner aircraft and fuels that builds the aviation sector of the future rather than locking in harmful practices of the past.

And they can use their influence as airport owners and local leaders to demand action from Transport Canada — including a national commitment to eliminate leaded aviation fuel.

Check out our sample letter for ideas about what to ask your own mayor and councillors to do.

 Sample letter your Mayor can send to Transport Canada