The city’s executive committee has voted 11-1 to move ahead with negotiations on the proposed Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport expansion.
The executive committee spent the day debating a staff report which recommends certain conditions for jets to fly out of the Island airport.
The report said the city, pending council approval, could start negotiating with the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and Transport Canada to amend the 1983 Tripartite Agreement that bans jets from flying from the island airport and there.
The debate will now be brought to city council on Tuesday. An actual decision on the expansion won’t be made until next year with a new council.
During the meeting, Mayor Rob Ford moved a motion to conditionally approve jets now, but that motion did not pass.
A motion by Coun. David Shiner to restrict jet aircrafts to 25 per cent of all flights was also passed 7-5.
The draft decision & votes on Billy Bishop Airport item are now posted online http://t.co/WGtYxqe4xa. Item goes to Council Apr 1-2.
— Toronto City Clerk (@TorontoCouncil) March 26, 2014
Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce said he’s pleased at the results.
“I think the fact that we have unanimous approval to move it forward to council and on from there using a pretty good framework that’s been done by city staff, a lot of hard work put into that, I think that’s very encouraging and we look forward to being at council on the first,” said Deluce.
Coun. Adam Vaughan says that while jet supporters may see this as a victory, he believes the debate will not continue any further once it goes to council.
“Jets are not being approved at this council meeting because there is no way to getting to yes,” Vaughan explained. “The only answer, if they want it now in this term of council, it’s a flat no.”
The document, released on Thursday, calls for caps on the number of passengers and flights so as not to overwhelm ground transport and infrastructure and to “recognize and respect” the airport’s location on the waterfront.
Without limits, passenger volume could jump from 2.3 million a year to about 3.8 million, according to Deputy City Manager John Livey.
He also said the TPA and Transport Canada must address issues such as noise, traffic, flight paths, chemical and fuel management, community improvements and a curfew.
Nearly 200 people crowded into council chambers to have their say on the issue, the meeting lasting for more than 12 hours.
Among the supporters of airport expansion is Deluce, who said allowing jets will benefit the economy and create jobs.
“We will create 2,000 new jobs, about a half of them at Porter alone,” Deluce said.
“Opening new markets to Billy Bishop will make our city more competitive, create more business opportunities, and bolster tourism.”
“And many of those jobs will be high-paying technical jobs,” deputant George Berger said, adding the airport expansion would “help Toronto meet its goals as the destination of choice.”
However, others are concerned, with one speaker expressing herself in song.
“You heard about some idea to add jets down upon our lake, well, we all got together ’cause that would be a great mistake,” Beverly Dwyan sang.
John Campbell with Waterfront Toronto said the city needs to carefully balance airport expansion with development along the lake.
“At what point does the airport cease to be compatible with a thriving waterfront, and instead become a presence that overwhelms the waterfront,” Campbell said.
“At what scale of airport does the waterfront stop being an enjoyable place to live, work and play.”
Former Toronto mayor David Crombie warns allowing Porter to fly jets will open the door to other airlines.
“Make no mistake about it; if this green light is given, you will have an international waterfront airport,” Crombie said.
Others raised concerns about how an extension of the runway will affect everything from water quality and fish habitat to boating and noise for waterfront residents.
Fiona Nelson, chair of the Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition, said she is opposed to the expansion, arguing “the waterfront belongs to everybody and not just one private enterprise.”
She also said construction will “stir up stuff at the bottom of the lake” and that “millions of people use that drinking water, not just the City of Toronto.”
In a statement on the island airport on Tuesday, mayoral candidate Olivia Chow said “we should leave it as is.”
“Taxpayers shouldn’t spend $100 million on expanding a runway at the island airport to allow jets,” Chow said. “There are more important priorities and we have to live within our means.”
“And next year, above-ground rail will link us with Pearson Airport, making travel faster and easier.”
Carol Wilding, president and CEO of Toronto Region Board of Trade said the board is in favour of commercial jets at Billy Bishop Airport but that it needs to meet two conditions: the jet in use needs to be certified by Transport Canada and meet the existing noise limits in the Tripartite Agreement, and the TPA needs to work with the city to deal with congestion issues.
In 2013, Porter Airlines applied to extend the airport’s runway after signing a $2.08-billion deal with Bombardier to buy as many as 30 CS100 “whisper jets.”
Livey suggests putting off a decision until next March, when another report can be done, but Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly is pushing to approve Porter’s request this year.
Transport Action Ontario released its own report on Monday, which said expanding the existing runway to allow for jets would block off about three times more of the harbour to boaters and impede ferry routes and shipping.
