Despite objections from local councillors who say it could ruin the waterfront, Porter Airlines’ controversial plan to fly jets out of the Island Airport may be a step closer to becoming a reality.
Last month the airline asked the city to lift the jet ban and extend the main runway at Billy Bishop Airport. On Tuesday, May 7, council voted 29-15 to study the idea.
But the terms of the report will have some limitations. Councillor Adam Vaughan, who opposes the jet plan, successfully moved a series of motions that he believes will limit the scope of any potential expansion. They prevent the study from considering any changes to the airport’s noise restrictions or any encroachment on nearby parkland and the western shipping channel.
Vaughan is confident the restrictions will safeguard the waterfront, but still vowed to block Porter’s plan from going ahead.
“Anybody who thinks this is a go today ought to check their airline ticket. They’re on a ticket to nowhere,” he said.
The decision to study the matter was welcomed by Mayor Rob Ford, who’s been a vocal Porter booster. During the council debate he piled booklets on his desk that he said contained emails from residents who want the airline to expand, and afterwards the vote he shook hands with company CEO Robert Deluce on the council floor.
“It’s a good beginning,” Ford told reporters. “I’m glad that we’re moving in the right direction. It’s going to create jobs. It’s great for tourism. It’s what people want.”
Deluce said he was pleased with the vote and hopes his airline will soon be able to use jets to service cities too far afield for its current turbo-prop fleet.
“We’re really gratified by the strong support of almost two-thirds of council,” he said. “We look forward to moving to the next step and being able to provide some of those new destinations, eventually, at affordable prices. But the study first, and hopefully an approval in due course.”
Permission to fly jets out of Billy Bishop would require the consent of all three signatories to the tripartite agreement that governs the airport: the city, the Toronto Port Authority and the federal government.
But council’s decision green-lights a preliminary review that will ascertain, among other things, the potential economic impacts of expanding the airport to accommodate jets, the suitability of the CS100 planes the airline intends to fly and potential resulting passenger volumes.
Like Vaughan, other opponents of the jet plan were disappointed. They believe approval of the study doesn’t mean council will agree to make changes to the tripartite agreement.
“We’re looking forward to a rigorous report,” said Anshul Kapoor of No Jets T.O., a community group recently formed to stop Porter’s expansion. “Councillors left the door open to an open conversation, and we’re okay with that.”
Councillor Pam McConnell, whose ward encompasses the Toronto Islands, had also hoped council would reject the study.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t just shut it down, because I didn’t think we needed any more information,” she said. “But on the other hand, this allows Torontonians to really find out what the impact of jets on the island is.”
“I remain very optimistic that councillors, when given the kind of knowledge and information that I have, will come to similar conclusions.”
The results of the initial study will be tabled at executive committee on July 3. It will likely be sent on to council later the same month.
Council would then be asked to commission a second phase of the study, which would produce staff recommendations on whether or not to consent to the use of jets. A final council vote could come in October or November.
The initial phase of the study will require the hiring of outside experts, some of whom will have to be given sole-sourced contracts because the tight timelines involved don’t allow for the usual procurement process. Porter had committed to cover the estimated $225,000 to $275,000 cost, but council voted to request that the Toronto Port Authority pick up the bill instead.
The second phase is expected to cost between $800,000 and $1 million, and is currently unfunded. The city hopes the Toronto Port Authority will commit to funding that part as well.
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