Porter announces expansion of Island Airport presence

Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, transport minister John Baird, Ontario economic development minister Michael Bryant, Toronto Port Authority chairman Mark McQueen and Porter founder and CEO Robert Deluce were all in attendance at the Toronto Island airport on April 27 to herald the airline’s growth plans, which include construction of a $45 million 150,000 square foot passenger terminal and doubling its fleet before the end of the year.

The announcement was made at an invitation-only media event. Mayor David Miller was not in attendance; MP Olivia Chow and councillor Adam Vaughan were not invited to the announcement and instead attended a demonstration organized by Community AIR.

Phase one of the revamped terminal is slated to open in November. Its plans include passenger facilities, aircraft gates and office space. The full facility, including 10 bridged aircraft gates, U.S. and Canadian customs, and two passenger lounges is expected to be complete by spring 2010. In addition, the new terminal will house a mix of retail, food services, duty-free, car rentals and other services. Standard complimentary Porter amenities, including business centers, lounge-style seating, beverages and Wi-Fi will be present in the new building.

Porter’s position is that the airline’s expansion will create 300 immediate infrastructure jobs, plus the long-term benefit of more than 1000 direct Porter jobs, which in turn contribute “significantly to Toronto’s economic development at this critical time,” the release explains. “Over 1 million passengers will be using the terminal annually by 2010, with the facility supporting Porter’s growth up to 20 aircraft and beyond.”

“We are proud as a private company to be investing in the future of Toronto and all of our passengers with this project,” said Deluce. “This building is a testament to all of our employees’ hard work and everyone who believed this airport could support convenient, competitive airline service.” At the same time, Porter announced that the company is more than doubling its fleet to 18 Bombardier Q400 aircraft in 2009. Significantly increased frequency on its primary Montreal-Toronto and Ottawa-Toronto routes, new service to Thunder Bay, Ont., beginning June 26, and additional U.S. destinations all feature in Porter’s short-term growth plans.

The expansion, while receiving glowing marks from federal powerbrokers, is less than popular with residents of the communities that surround the airport.

“Mayor Miller was elected on a campaign promise of No Airport Expansion. We intend to ensure he honours that promise” said Joan Prowse, who speaks for Bathurst Quay residents like John Bessai, who  agrees with Prowse. “I’m worried about what’s in the air and I’m worried about the health of the children who attend the three schools here,” he advises. “I feel like a frog in boiling water, because people are starting to get used to the idea of the airport growing. But I had a friend over from North Toronto who could smell the fuel in the air in my apartment.”

“No one has any problem with a successful airline. The question we have is should it be operating out of the waterfront neighbourhood?” Bessai asks. “We’ve had no air quality testing, as far as we know.”

At the demonstration, Community AIR issued an open letter to David Miller calling for him to enforce the tripartite agreement, which theoretically limits airport expansion.

“We want the mayor, who does stand with us, to really make it clear that the tripartite agreement needs to be enforced,” Bessai states. “Vaughan and Chow were with us,” he adds, “saying that these are real concerns about what’s going on here and that it’s not just this out of the park grand slam.

“This expansion is not something that’s just happening without people raising concerns,” Bessai comments. “This expansion is really crossing the line. We’re on the threshold of the sort of expansion we feared when we had the bridge stopped.”

Adam Vaughan was less diplomatic in expressing his frustration with the announcement.

“This guy must have connections in cabinet,” Vaughan stormed. “Deluce has more power in cabinet than many ministers do. What chance do taxpayers have to get this kind of representation? We don’t get that kind of help.”

Vaughan pointed out that a letter issued the same day as the announcement called on the auditor general to investigate the accounts of the “rogue” port authority.

“Lisa Raitt spend $60 thousand entertaining herself and others at Harbour 60 restaurant,” he accused. “We’ll see what John Baird does with this—but it’s hard to imagine he’d investigate an organization he goes and cuts ribbons for.  They can’t pump enough money this airport’s way. What offends me the most about it is the traffic congestion. We have taxis driving on the schoolyards to get into the queuing lane. They have private limousines parked in the handicapped spot, saying that the Port Authority gave them permission to park there.”

Vaughan’s predecessor, now-MP Olivia Chow, has a wider perspective on what many believe are wasted funds.

“My position is that this money-losing tiny airport is receiving huge tax subsidies. It’s unaccountable and it’s certainly not what’s needed in the city of Toronto. There are many small airports across Canada that are facing closing in smaller towns and cities. They are the ones that need financial support from the federal government, not the Island airport, especially as we have Pearson.”

Like Vaughan, Chow was unable to offer a concrete plan to stop the airport expansion.

“Community members can write to the auditor general to have the auditor general look at the operations of this rogue agency and at least get some information out there. But as long as we have a government that appoints federal cronies and wastes money on a tiny airport, things aren’t going to get any better

“Unless Porter goes bankrupt, which is possible.”