Click here to email Brittney LeBlanc
6/30/2009
On July 8, City Council is expected to make its decision on the City Centre Airport's fate.
Council held hearings open to the public last week. Hearings, which were followed closely on the social networking site Twitter. One of the most prominent voices during the hearings was Edmonton blogger Mack Male, known online as MasterMaq. Today he launched a counter-website, NotMyAirport.ca.
"I've been following the City Centre Airport debate for a few weeks now. As a techie guy, a kind of internet guy, I was sort of dismayed that the only real website and information online was SaveOurAirport.ca, and a site from the Kingsway Business Association." Male says he wanted to bring a counter-balance to the debate online, "So I played off their name and their billboards you've probably seen around town, and launched something called NotMyAirport.ca. It's to share the other side of the story and represent some of the people who would like to see the City Centre Airport closed."
David MacLean the Vice President of the Alberta Enterprise Group says it's great to have competition for SaveECCA. "We've collected more than 1,100 signatures calling for the City of Edmonton to keep the airport open. But, it's wonderful that those who support closing the airport are also speaking out. It makes it very interesting to those of us who spend any time online."
The AEG's site, SaveOurAirport.ca, has been open for a month now.
Edmonton's Twitter community is no stranger to topical issues. Bill44 was widely discussed on the social networking site, and Edmonton Calder MLA Doug Elniski's comments made through his Twitter and blog were widely publicized. The hashtag for the Edmonton City Centre Airport debate, #ecca, has been mentioned in over 450 tweets this past week alone. So it's no secret that Social Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have thousands of Edmontonians choosing sides and debating the issues.
MacLean says regardless of which side you're taking in the debate, it's great that people are using these sites to express their views. "We've had some success with the Save Our Airport Facebook group and we've had some success online with Twitter as well. So, y'know, this is a big part of the campaign, and it's a big part of the future of campaigning. Especially in terms of reaching out to people you normally wouldn't have been able to reach."
That's probably the one thing Male agrees with him on. "I think it's important that people speak up. If anything, just to tell City Counsellors that they need to make a decision. There's a very really chance July 8th could come and go, and the issue won't be solved. Then we'll have the issue being debated for years to come. What I want to see happen is some momentum, get some other people mobilized - try to encourage their friends, families, and colleagues, so that we can have our say and be done with the airport."
Want to have your say? Contact your Councillor and give them your opinion on the City Centre Airport: City of Edmonton contact information for City Councillors.
On The Net:
NotMyAirport.ca
SaveOurAirport.ca
Follow the debate here: #ecca on Twitter Search.
Follow SaveECCA on Twitter.
Follow Mastermaq on Twitter.
Follow iNews880 on Twitter.
Follow the City of Edmonton on Twitter.
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