Jets are not appropriate Downtown

‘The noise from the planes, which starts around 6:30 a.m. and continues to 11:00 p.m., has only intensified over the last few years with additional slots given to the airport operations’

By Pam McConnell –

The recent announcement by Robert Deluce of the desire to operate jets at the Island Airport not only poses numerous problems but also highlights the serious issues surrounding the airport. I am very disappointed that the “dialogue” on these issues has only taken the form of public relations spin and avoids the true question of whether jets are appropriate in the Downtown.

Although there have been minor efforts to mitigate the effects of the airport, neighbourhood disruptions remain constant. The noise from the planes, which starts around 6:30 a.m. and continues to 11:00 p.m., has only intensified over the last few years with additional slots given to the airport operations. Increasing the number of slots meant increasing the number of planes, and it has brought a constant level of activity.

An unfortunate example can be experienced at the Toronto Music Gardens. Intended to be a serene oasis for contemplation and the enjoyment of small music performances, the peace in this public space is frequently shattered and performances interrupted by air traffic. A claim that a larger plane is quieter or that a jet can “whisper” is either deliberately misleading or utterly foolish.

An even greater concern is the health risk caused by pollution. Not only are the emissions spewed as planes approach and leave the runway, but their exhaust during idling and run-up are captured by the wind and dispersed at ground-level along the waterfront. Scientific studies have demonstrated that the exhaust from jets is even more toxic and damaging than that from smaller planes. Jets are similar to operating a heavy industry, all in proximity to a dense residential neighbourhood and some of the most heavily used parkland in the city.

Further increasing the airport’s impact is the volume of vehicular traffic – shuttle buses, taxis, and private vehicles dropping off and picking up passengers – added to the regular traffic flow in the busy neighbourhood. Eireann Quay, the route to the airport ferry, is immediately adjacent to Little Norway Park, the Harbourfront Community Centre, and the Waterfront School. The traffic along this street is already in constant conflict with hundreds of neighbourhood children, and adding jets with a larger passenger load will only make a bad situation even worse.

While the airport brings noise, pollution, and congestion problems, there is little evidence that the airport provides added benefit to Toronto. Although some find the proximity of the airport to the Downtown to be a convenience, it is doubtful that this convenience is the primary motivation for booking a flight. People who require a jet to get to their destinations will utilize Pearson. Despite the hype, adding jets to the Island will not create new jobs but simply relocate air traffic and vehicular traffic away from Pearson – which is better placed and designed to handle this volume and activity.

Meanwhile, the Island Airport contributes very little to the City. Federal properties and agencies are exempt from paying property taxes. Instead, they make Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILTs), which are intended to support the municipal services they use and are based on equitable comparison with neighbouring property owners. However, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), which operates the airport, continues to fight the City on an appropriate payment. Their last offer, significantly lower than the value determined by the province’s Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), was recently rejected by City Council. While the TPA and the airport benefit from City services, they refuse to pay their fair share. As a result, homeowners and local businesses are subsidizing airport operations.

Deluce’s proposal is expressly forbidden in the Tripartite Agreement, signed by the City of Toronto, the Government of Canada, and the TPA. First, in recognition of the disruption and pollution, jets are explicitly prohibited at the Island Airport. Second, the necessary runway extension – more than the length of a football field at each end – is not permitted.

After decades of effort that has gone into cleaning the harbour to make it more enjoyable for residents and visitors and safer for commercial and recreational boaters, it is counterproductive to extend the airport into the lake. And with the City working with other orders of government and residents to unlock the value of our waterfront by making it a more attractive place for businesses to invest, for Torontonians to live, work, and recreate, and for tourists to visit and enjoy, the addition of jets disrupts those goals.

Residents and elected representatives from across the city were shocked and outraged that Deluce made his intentions known through a media announcement without first exploring the concept with signatories to the Agreement. Since the announcement, all of Porter’s spin has been self-serving, dishonest, and focused on their profit margin. Their actions demonstrate poor judgement and a disregard for all Toronto residents, the public process, and the legislative process.

Adding to this disrespect are Porter’s latest moves to push through approvals to give their proposal a green light. As misguided as it might be, Porter is certainly within their rights to request changes to the airport and its operations. However, sending a letter to the Mayor on the eve of an Executive Committee meeting, to have the item walked on without any advance notice, opportunity for public deputations, or proper consideration, is both arrogant and anti-democratic.

Porter’s offer to pay the City the cost of accelerating the report is an attempt to purchase preferred treatment and undermines the work of staff and the direction of Council. The short timeframe and frantic deadline that Porter has set to amend the Tripartite Agreement shows a lack of concern for a proper examination of the issues and ramifications for the area. While I was able to secure consultation with area stakeholders, such as Waterfront Toronto and the school community, I am very dissatisfied with how these events have unfolded.

Porter’s method of dealing with these issues proves quite clearly that they are irresponsible and nonresponsive and a bad neighbour to the Downtown.

I am also disappointed that the TPA continues to operate more as a business agent for the airline than as a government agency and caretaker of a public asset. I am troubled that their lake fill project – being pursued despite community concerns and objections – seems to be literally laying the groundwork to accommodate jets, despite public assurances that they have no interest in extending the runway. Of course, we heard similar denials about seeking additional slots right up until the moment that the TPA announced that additional slots had been granted.

Clearly, if Porter’s operations have outgrown the Island Airport or they want to add more distant destinations, then their jets should fly out of Pearson. Not only is Pearson designed to handle jets, but the Union-Pearson link will be fully operational shortly, providing a fast and convenient route between the Downtown and the airport.

While we should always try to balance different interests, it is apparent that there is no way to balance jet traffic with the goal of a healthy and beautiful waterfront that includes a dense residential neighbourhood and expansive green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Much like the concept of a casino in the Downtown, this proposal is an attempt to sacrifice one of the city’s great assets and visions. Our waterfront is extremely precious, and we must ensure that the decisions we make about its future do not benefit only a single user but works for local residents and businesses and for all Torontonians.