As federal Conservative politicians used a $45-million Porter Airlines expansion announcement as a photo opportunity, a small group of protesters made their displeasure known.

"We have a right to breath air that isn't filled with carcinogens spewed from the commercial airport 500 metres from our doorstep," stated a flyer that picketers distributed on Monday outside the announcement.

NDP MP and former city councillor Olivia Chow, who represents the Trinity-Spadina riding in which the airport sits and is a long-time opponent of airport expansion, was seen walking with the protesters.

Some told CTV Toronto they were concerned about increasing pollution and congestion that would be caused by the expansion. One woman complained about the noise.

Many live on the Toronto Islands. The community there has long opposed Porter Airlines.

However, Robert Deluce, president of the airline, brushed off the protest.

"There are many, many individuals who live right on this waterfront and who in fact walk to the airport to board their flights. They're appreciative that we have developed an airport and a terminal that is very complementary to the waterfront and to the lifestyle that many of these individuals have chosen," he said.

Deluce said an environmental assessment has found the expansion won't have a significant impact and that the fleet of Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft are designed for urban environments.

Porter's expansion plan will create 300 construction jobs.

By November, the airport is expected to have new aircraft gates and office space. In spring 2010, it may have a second passenger lounge, 10 bridged aircraft gates and customs checkpoints for travellers to and from the United States. The airline's flights are expected to double.

Porter is playing for the expansion.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to be at an announcement where the federal government has no investment -- there's no taxpayers money in this building," federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty joked.

Flaherty is MP for Whitby-Oshawa and the political minister for the GTA.

"It is a good news announcement that's putting shovels in the ground," he said. "This is good for Toronto, it is good for Ontario and it's good for our country."

Federal Transport Minister John Baird added: ""I don't think anyone has ever worked so hard and faced so many obstacles and overcome them and triumphed economically. The great airline that is Porter is providing a lot of great service."

Porter began flying in the fall of 2006. Mayor David Miller ran in the 2003 campaign on a platform that opposed a fixed link to the airport. He sees expansion of the airport as incompatible with making the waterfront more friendly to people.

Since initially flying to Ottawa, Porter has added the following destinations:

  • Thunder Bay, Ont.
  • Montreal
  • Mont Tremblant, Que.
  •  Quebec City
  • Halifax
  • New York
  • Chicago

The company is considering adding the following destinations:

  • Sault Ste. Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Timmins
  •  Windsor
  •  Boston
  • Cincinnati
  • Cleveland
  • Detroit
  • Philadelphia

With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman and files from The Canadian Press