Airport debate to continue March 25: curfew violations reported

Dennis Hanagan —

The city’s Executive Committee will deal with the controversial Island airport at a special meeting March 25. It’ll look at a request for an amendment to the Tripartite Agreement (TA) that oversees the airport. Porter Airlines wants jets and longer runways for the airport, and needs a TA amendment to do that. All three TA members—the city, the Toronto Port Authority, and the federal government—would have to agree to it.

It was standing-room-only in city council chambers Jan. 27 when opponents and supporters got together to hear an update on Porter’s plans. Speakers for and against received applause from the crowd, although it was more robust for opponents.

City staff want more details. “Outstanding questions” remain, they say—Transport Canada has not provided confirmation of the feasibility and impacts of a runway extension, jet CS-100-builder Bombardier has not provided enough information about whether the jets will meet noise guidelines, and the TA, which expires in 2033, does not provide for its own renewal or extension.

Councillor Pam McConnell, whose Ward 28 includes Toronto Island, opened the update meeting saying she’s “not very neutral” on Porter’s plans. However, many councillors “are not close” to the issue and must understand the importance of what they vote on, she said.

She set out the consequences succinctly: they have the opportunity to “get it right or get it wrong.”

Less than two hours after the meeting began 85 people had registered to speak. Opponents questioned Porter’s expansion plans and its effects on wildlife, air quality, the lake’s water quality, boating and how fuel would be stored at the airport.

They said jet noise would interrupt Island events, and increased passenger use would create parking problems for Bathurst Quay residents.

One man said he found it easy to get to Pearson airport and questioned the stance that expanding BBTCA would be a convenience for Downtown travellers. “I don’t get this convenience argument,” he said.

TPA President Geoffrey Wilson told the meeting a poll revealed 90% of Torontonians said the island airport is a valuable asset for the city. He said 80% of the airport’s flights take place over water.

Trying to assuage opponents concerns, he said “we don’t aspire to be a mini Pearson on the lake.” He said TPA’s criteria for the airport is that aircraft meet noise restrictions, there be no negative impact on the environment, and the surrounding area be made no less livable.

BBTCA has an 11 p.m. to 6:45 a.m. noise curfew. Wilson fielded a complaint from the audience about a past-midnight flight. During the ice storm he said there were six curfew violations and the landings were not for safety reasons. The TPA fined Porter for all six, he said.

A city staff report to the Executive Committee says BBTCA has experienced significant growth following Porter’s 2006 launch with annual passenger volumes rising to 2.3 million in 2012 from 26,000 in 2006. It’s the ninth busiest airport in Canada.