Toronto Port Authority drops lawsuit after community group apologizes

The Toronto Port Authority agreed to drop a $3-million defamation lawsuit against a community group and seven of its members after the group issued an apologyWednesday.

The unconditional apology from Community AIR comes a year after the port authority filed its lawsuit over comments made on the group's website and in abriefing memosent out to federal ministers and city councillors.

"We acknowledge that there is no foundation for those statements, and that they should not have been made, or circulated," the written apology by Community AIR states.

Community AIR is a vocalopponent of the port authority over the expansion of the Toronto island airport owned by the authority.

Thebriefing memo and comments posted on the websitewere directed not only at the port authority but also individuals, including CEO Lisa Raitt.

The apology alsoacknowledges that the lawsuit was legitimate.

When the lawsuit was filed, Community AIR members had called it a cynical attempt to silence them.

Wednesday'sstatement issued by the port authority said they "welcomed" the retraction and believe it "should bring the matter to a close.

"We are pleased that this matter is now behind us," said Raitt in a news release.

Both parties have agreed not to comment further on the matter.