Councillor calls for public vote on airport

Councillor Linda Sloan says Edmontonians should be able to vote on the future of the City Centre Airport without waiting to verify signatures on apetition.

Sloan said the question should be put on the civic election ballotin October.

Last Thursday the pro-airport group Envision Edmonton delivered a petition with more than92,000 signatures to city hall.

The groupneeded to collect more than 78,000 signatures to force the city to hold a plebiscite on the future of the airport.

City staff will count and verify the petition's signatures by Sept. 15.

Sloan says the petition shouldn't be struck down if the counting comes up short.

On Monday she put a motion before council asking for a commitmentto a public vote.

Her motion was defeated.

"Well I think there's an obligation, lets say it's 100 signatures short they have achieved a very high percentage of signatures from the electorate saying that they want this on the ballot and I think council has an obligation as a democratic entity to facilitate that," Sloan told CBC News.

First licensed airstrip in Canada

City Centre Airport, built in 1929, was the first licensed airstrip in Canada and occupies 217 hectares downtown.

A June 2008 reportestimated the land, if sold, could accommodate 32,000 homes and earn the city an additional $95 million in property taxes.

However, the airport is home to a number of businesses, and some argue it brings a significant economic benefit to the community.