WATCH: The city’s executive committee voted 11-1 to push the debate on the expansion of Toronto’s island airport to city council next month. Peter Kim reports.
TORONTO – The Billy Bishop Island Airport expansion debate will be moving ahead and city councillors will finally have their say about the matter next week.
The city’s executive committee voted 11-1 to push forward with the plan to lengthen the island airport 200 metres at each end.
The controversial plan is expected to be discussed at city council on April 1.
Tuesday’s meeting lasted well into the evening with 190 registered speakers in council chambers.
During the debate, Mayor Rob Ford, who is a big supporter of the plan, put forth a motion to seek a conditional approval for the airport expansion but it was voted down by a margin of 8 to 4.
“I support the island airport wholeheartedly. I’ve never changed my position on it. It’s amazing for Toronto. It stimulates our economy. It creates jobs and it will bring in millions of millions of dollars,” Ford told reporters prior to the meeting on Tuesday. “We should get on with it, stop playing the games.
“Councillors should use their common sense and just approve it.”
READ MORE: What do the mayoral candidates say about Porter’s expansion plans?
A report released by Transport Action Ontario on Monday indicated the city would need to increase safety zones in order for the new jets to land, which means more property close to the water will be restricted for commercial or recreational use.
A city staff report released last week also called for passengers coming in and out of the airport to be capped at 2.4 million and daily flights at 202 before any discussion on expansion is made. Right now there are about 2.3 million passengers annually and 202 flights going through the airport daily.
Porter Airlines has already signed a conditional deal with Bombardier to buy up to 30 CS100 jets contingent on on the city’s approval of an expansion.
ABOVE: Almost 200 people signed up to give councillors their opinion on Porter’s expansion plans. Jackson Proskow reports.
Some Torontonians are worried about the noise, inconvenience and possible environmental effects of the proposal.
Citizens group NoJetsTO has been actively fighting Porter’s plan since they were first proposed.
The group suggested bird strikes near the airport have been rising since 2006.
They also quoted one speaker, in a tweet, who said the purported increase to economic activity was a myth.
Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce spoke to council just before lunch Tuesday, reading a litany of benefits from expanding the island airport. He suggested economic activity could increase by $250 million annually while adding close to 2,000 jobs.
He also said that if the jets are too loud or environmental regulations aren’t met, they won’t proceed with the proposal.
“The CS100 must meet the airport’s stringent noise conditions or we won’t proceed,” he said. “Meeting the noise and runway requirements is the ultimate check and balance on our proposal. If either condition is not met than we will not move forward.”
WATCH: Advocacy group believes Billy Bishop expansion plan too risky
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