Public consultation on use of jets at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  August 27, 2013        

Public consultation on use of jets at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

The City of Toronto is conducting a public consultation process on a request to permit jet airplanes at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The focus of the consultation is to assess how changes to the airport would impact the city, including the ongoing revitalization of the waterfront and nearby communities on the water’s edge.

Specific issues to be considered include:

• Aviation - noise, safety and infrastructure • Economic impacts • Land use and community impacts • Marine navigation, coastal and habitat assessments • Public health impacts • Transportation impacts.

All Toronto residents are encouraged to participate and provide the City with feedback about this important issue:

• Participate online at http://www.toronto.ca/bbtca_review to obtain more information and complete an online survey.

• Attend one of two workshops to talk with City staff and technical consultants and share ideas:

Workshop 1

Wednesday, September 4

Fort York - Blue Barracks Rm.

250 Fort York Blvd.

2 to 3 p.m. (drop-in)

3 to 5 p.m. (workshop)

Workshop 2

Monday, September 9

Metro Hall - Rooms 308/309

55 John St.

6 to 7 p.m. (drop-in)

7 to 9 p.m. (workshop)

• Participate in a Town Hall meeting that will include a presentation and discussion:

Thursday, September 12

Direct Energy Convention Centre, Exhibition Place - Salon 205

100 Princes' Blvd.

6 to 7 p.m. (drop-in)

7 to 9 p.m. (presentations and discussion)

At its May 7 meeting, Toronto City Council asked City staff to undertake a review of a request from Porter Airlines to amend the 1983 Tripartite Agreement between the City of Toronto, the Government of Canada, and the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) to permit the landing of commercial jets at Billy Bishop Toronto Centre Airport (BBTCA). The review excludes the following: an expansion into the Toronto Islands Park, an expansion of the current Marine Exclusion Zone and any change to existing airport noise guidelines.

The Tripartite Agreement governs the operation of BBTCA. The agreement places restrictions on the types of aircraft that may be operated at the airport, hours of operation, noise conditions and access to the facilities. The City of Toronto, the TPA and the Government of Canada each own part of the lands on which the airport is located.

The Tripartite Agreement may be amended with the written consent of all parties. Any amending agreement would be brought back to Toronto City Council for approval before being signed.

Both of Toronto's airports have experienced significant passenger growth over the last six years. BBTCA grew in passengers from more than 770,000 to more than 1.9 million between 2009 and the end of 2012. In the same period, passenger growth through Pearson International Airport increased from close to 29 million to almost 35 million.

The public and stakeholder consultation is an essential element of the review. The findings from the consultation process will be available online after the consultation has concluded and will be used to help inform the staff review.

Staff will submit an update on this matter to the September 24 meeting of the City's Executive Committee. A final public consultation meeting will be held in early November. The final report is scheduled to be brought forward for consideration at the December 5 meeting of the Executive Committee. Pending decisions made by the City's Executive Committee, the final report will then go to Council for consideration.

More information about how to make a deputation is available at http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/tmmis/have-your-say.htm.             

                               

More information about the review is available at http://www.toronto.ca/bbtca_review.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Media contact: Deborah Blackstone, Strategic Communications, 416-392-7377, dblacks@toronto.ca