Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan (2018) - Public Meeting and Open House #
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Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan (2018)
Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Prepared by Lura Consulting for:
PortsToronto
February 2018
This report was prepared by Lura Consulting, the neutral, third-party facilitator for the PortsToronto
Airport Master Plan 2018. This Document is provided as a summary of the first public meeting and open
house for the PortsToronto Airport Master Plan 2018 that took place on February 7th, 2018. This
summary is not intended as a verbatim account of events. Rather, it provides the key points made
during the open house, presentation and question and answer session. If you have any questions or
comments regarding this report, please contact:
Angela Homewood Michelle Dagnino
Project Manager Facilitator
PortsToronto Lura Consulting
416-863-2046 416-876-2552
ahomewood@portstoronto.com mdagnino@lura.ca
PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Project Background ................................................................................................................................... 2
Project Timeline ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2. Public Meeting and Open House Overview .......................................................................................... 4
3. Open House........................................................................................................................................... 4
Open House Event Overview .................................................................................................................... 4
Summary of Open House Feedback .......................................................................................................... 5
4. Presentation and Q&A ........................................................................................................................ 12
Presentation: Master Plan Process and Objectives ................................................................................ 12
Facilitated Question and Answer Session ............................................................................................... 13
5. Next Steps ........................................................................................................................................... 20
Appendix A - Presentation.......................................................................................................................... 21
Appendix B – Open house Displays ............................................................................................................ 22
Appendix C - Meeting Agenda .................................................................................................................... 23
Appendix D – Feedback Form..................................................................................................................... 24
Appendix E – Feedback Form Submission Responses ................................................................................ 27
PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
1. Introduction
Project Background
PortsToronto is developing a new Master Plan for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. A Master
Plan provides a long-range vision for the airport’s built environment which guides the
appropriate use of lands and assists airport management in making informed decisions
regarding future development. The Airport Master Plan is not a regulatory document. However,
it is a best management practice, which all levels of government/agencies use as a long-term
planning tool. The 2018 Airport Master Plan will operate on a twenty-year planning horizon
with typical Master Plan updated cycles including a five-year review and development of a new
document after ten years.
The development of the Airport Master Plan 2018 is an update on the first Airport’s first Master
Plan that was completed in 2012. Unlike the previous Master Planning process, the preparation
of this document will include consultation with community groups, the public, airport
stakeholders and various levels of government agencies, including First Nation communities.
The Master Plan process is guided by several objectives, including;
• The determination of rationale for development concepts based on a growth/planning
horizon;
• The creation of a long-term development plan for infrastructure to support airport uses
which will ensure operational objectives;
• Reflection on the overall objectives of PortsToronto that include environmental
responsibility, sustainability and social responsibility; and
• Additional items that may be identified through the consultation and engagement process.
The Master Plan will include several key components, including;
• An inventory of existing conditions;
• The forecast of future demands and needs, including activity scenarios;
• An update of historical activity statistics including passenger and aircraft activity including
peak-hour demand based on market analysis and compliance with Noise Exposure
Forecasts;
• The Identification of capacity/functional constraints and operational/infrastructure
improvements required to achieve airport’s vision/objectives and meet the new and
upcoming regulatory requirements;
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
• The Identification of opportunities and constraints;
• An investigation of environmental and socioeconomic effects; and
• The establishment of short and long-term objectives.
Project Timeline
The development of the Airport Master Plan 2018 is a four-phase process (Figure 1), which will
include three public meetings to gather input from the community at key project milestones.
The Master Planning process will take approximately one year to complete, with the finalization
of the Master Plan slated for early 2019. The first public meeting, summarized in this report,
falls within Phase One - Data Collection and Review.
Figure 1: 2018 Airport Master Plan Timeline and Process
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
2. Public Meeting and Open House Overview
The first public meeting for the PortsToronto Airport Master Plan 2018 took place on Wednesday,
February 7, 2018 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 5:00pm to 8:30pm. The meeting was
publicized through public notice in December 2017 and January 2018 on the PortsToronto website and
on the Airport Master Plan website in 2018. Notice of the public meeting was also shared on social
media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The purpose of the meeting was to:
• Introduce PortsToronto’s Airport Master Plan 2018 to the public;
• Provide the opportunity for members of the public to review the Master Planning process and
its components; and
• Listen to public input on the Master Planning process prior to the development of the plan.
The meeting was split into two portions; an open house and a presentation of the Master Plan process
and its objectives, and a follow-up question and answer session. Approximately seventy people
attended the meeting.
The following section provides a more detailed account of the public meeting and open house events as
well as a summary of the feedback received from participants.
3. Open House
Open House Event Overview
The first half of the public meeting was an open house session that gave members of the public the
opportunity to interact with subject matter experts positioned at eleven stations dispersed throughout
the meeting space. Each station provided information about an important component of the Master
Planning process, including the following: Master Plan and Planning Process, Wildlife Management,
Noise Management, Winter Operations – including Glycol Containment, Landside Transportation,
Emergency Services, Security and Public Safety, Airport Infrastructure Projects, Environmental
Sustainability, the Southern Ontario Airports Network, and the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan.
Participants were invited to stop by the stations to review materials related to each topic presented on
display boards (Appendix B) and engage in conversation with subject matter experts. Each station was
also staffed with a facilitator from Lura Consulting who recorded the discussion and questions posed by
participants.
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
The following is a summary of the Key themes and questions received at each station. A list of all
comments and questions submitted through feedbacks form and email can be found in Appendix E and
F.
Summary of Open House Feedback
(Note: Feedback at the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan station was received directly by the City of
Toronto staff. The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan is a separate plan not directly affiliated with
PortsToronto and therefore is not summarized in this document.)
Master Planning Process
Key Themes:
• Interest in the Master Plan Process and its considerations – Several participants appreciated that
the community was being consulted on the Master Plan. Many sought clarification on what the
Master Plan will consider. This included questions related to the possibility of expanded airport
operations, and the types of infrastructure improvements that would be considered in the plan.
Some participants questioned whether or not the Master Plan would include jets. Participants were
informed that jets are not on the table. Several participants suggested greater emphasis on
considerations for how the airport can work better in the waterfront community. Many wanted to
know how the Plan would address a range of community concerns such as noise and the
environment. Some questioned how the Master Plan could interact with some of City of Toronto’s
planning initiatives. One participant suggested that the project team spend more time out in the
field observing life on the waterfront and engaging the community’s children and youth.
• Airport Safety – Participants had questions related to how airport safety is being considered in the
Master Plan. Most questions related to the pending Transport Canada decision on the
implementation on Runway End Safety Areas. Some participants asked about the level of safety
standards the Airport adheres to and what safety technologies were being considered in the Master
Plan. Some questioned the safety of the airport’s proximity to tall residential buildings. Other
questions and comments were addressed how the Master Plan will consider safety issues caused by
landside traffic to the airport.
• Balance General and Commercial Aviation – Open house participants expressed concern about the
preservation of space for general aviation operations at Billy Bishop Airport. This included questions
related to how the Master Plan will address both needs, what constraints exist in relation to hangar
facilities, and how PortsToronto will classify airplane movements. The desire for greater
accommodation of general aviation needs was expressed.
• PortsToronto Structure – Some participants had questions about how PortsToronto operates. This
included questions related to its existence as a Government Business Enterprise, ownership of the
airport, and how the Tripartite Agreements expiration in 2033 will affect the Master Plan.
• Consultation Process – Some questions were asked about the consultation process. Specifically,
some asked why there was only one meeting during the first phase of the project. Another person
requested that the project team consider an alternative to public meetings as not everyone is able
to easily attend such events.
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Questions:
• How will the Master Plan balance the needs of general and commercial aviation?
• Will there be a granular classification of airport users? (e.g., below general or commercial aviation).
• Why was runway 33 closed?
• How does NAV Canada operate?
• What is the purpose of the first public meeting? Is this the only public meeting at this stage?
• The island airport is limited in infrastructure. What are the options for infrastructure improvements?
• Who owns Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport?
• Are jets being considered as part of the Master Plan?
• What is the possibility of more aircraft movements?
• Will the 2033 expiry of the Tripartite Agreement affect the Master Plan?
• What is being used as a comparator airport?
• The Master Plan is not a regulatory document? There is no regulatory framework you are required
to follow?
• How are tall buildings that impede on air space being considered?
• How will the Master Plan integrate City of Toronto initiatives?
• The airport does not currently have missed approach surfaces? Are you preparing for Runway End
Safety Areas as per Transport Canada’s upcoming regulation changes?
• What edition of Transport Canada’s Aerodromes Standards and Recommended Practices (TP 312)
are you required to meet? Do you follow 4th or 5th edition standards?
• Has anyone costed an engineered materials arrestor system (eMASS) for the Billy Bishop Toronto
City Airport?
Wildlife Management
Key Themes:
Wildlife Management Techniques – Several participants raised questions about the techniques used by
Falcon Environmental to conduct wildlife management. Many participants were interested in hearing
about the software and analytical tools used by biologists to support the airport and were surprised by
how much goes into wildlife management. Several participants were pleased to hear that Falcon
Environmental has employed techniques that cause less noise and avoid harm to wildlife.
Bird Safety – Many questions were asked about bird safety. Some participants were curious about bird
strikes and the techniques used to avoid such incidents. Others raised questions about a petition to
make the Toronto Islands a bird sanctuary and the airport’s potential interference with bird flight paths.
Other Wildlife – A few questions were raised about the airport’s impacts on other wildlife such as
aquatic life and butterfly populations.
Questions:
• Do you do wildlife suppression full time? Do you have a falconer on staff full time?
• Is there more wildlife management conducted at certain times of the year?
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
• How many falcons do you have?
• What is the status of the petition for the bird sanctuary?
• Are observed reductions of monarch butterfly populations related to airport operations?
• What is the purpose of the wildlife management plan?
• I occasionally hear flares. What are they used for?
• What does the dog do?
• What species of birds do you primarily deal with? Do you terminate bird eggs? How do you keep the
birds away from aircraft? Are bird strikes common? Do birds get sucked into turbo prop plane
engines?
• Does the airport have a problem with wildlife?
• What is the impact of the airport on aquatic life?
• How do you measure wildlife management success?
• How does this airport compare with others in terms of bird safety?
Noise Management
Key Themes:
• Noise Statistics – Several participants requested that concrete statistics on noise be made available
to the public. Some participants wanted clarification on how airport noise is measured including
how ground noise and noise caused by airborne planes are registered and differentiated. One
participant asked if noise caused by vehicular traffic flows in and out of Eireann Quay are registered
as part of the NEF Contour that regulates airport noise. Another participant suggested that more
noise monitors should be installed.
• General Noise Concerns – Participants raised a series of concerns related to airport noise. This
ranged from the time that flight operations begin and end, increases in flight traffic, and noise
caused by idling planes. Several participants indicated that noise levels caused by airport operations
significantly impacted their ability to enjoy their balconies or time spent along the waterfront.
• Access to Noise Information – Several participants said that the airport should make information on
noise more accessible to the public. This included a suggested education piece that would clarify
that not all noise caused by air traffic in the area is caused by Billy Bishop Airport (some is from
Pearson). Some participants requested more information on how the Ground Run-up Enclosure
(GRE) had mitigated noise issues. One participant expressed concern related to the safety of
publicizing flight information on Webtrax.
Questions:
• Is there a plan to allow planes to take off and land after 11:00pm?
• Do you have a noise profile available? When is it updated and when will it be available? Will you
provide a yearly noise summary?
• How does noise mitigation and monitoring work?
• How well is the noise enclosure (GRE) working?
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PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
• How are noise complaints logged? How many complaints did you have about noises caused by the
airport renovations? Is it possible to channel airport complaints through a third party?
• Why do airplanes create noise while idling? Can planes not turn off their engines while waiting?
• What is the status of the noise barrier?
• What is Webtrax? How is it used?
• Can the noise barrier be made more attractive?
Winter Operations – Including Glycol Containment
Key Themes:
• Clarification on De-icing process – Several participants asked questions about the de-icing process.
Most questions related to how the process works, the types of glycol chemicals used, and how the
glycol is contained. One participant questioned why glycol is not recycled.
• Other Winter Operation procedures – Some participants had questions about snow removal and
the use of salt at the airport.
• Fuel – Some participants at this station had questions related to the size of the airports process for
receiving and storing fuel.
Questions:
• What is the de-icing process? How is glycol contained? What type of glycol is used?
• How is the surrounding area tested for glycol contamination?
• What safety measures are put in place for those working with de-icing chemicals?
• What is the snow removal process? Is snow dumped into the lake?
• Does the airport use salt?
• What is the size of the fuel farm?
• How does the fuel get to the island? How many trucks are needed to transport the fuel?
Landside Transportation
Key Themes:
• Clarification of what landside transportation means – Several participants expressed confusion
over what PortsToronto considers as landside. Many participants wanted to know how
PortsToronto perceives its landside constraints related to traffic flows and emergency vehicle
access.
• Better utilization of landside transportation space – Some participants suggested that the tunnel to
the airport could be better decorated with art installations, information, and should incorporate
amenities (e.g., water dispenser). One participant suggested that the airport shuttle should
advertise access to the UP express via Union Station.
• Infrastructure Improvements – General comments were received about what the city intended to
do to improve traffic flows in the area. One participant suggested that the Master Plan consider an
end-to-end approach to addressing issues with access to the airport.
8PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Questions:
• What is considered landside?
• What do you consider to be your landside constraints?
• What is the procedure for emergency vehicle access? Are there issues with constraints?
• Why is there no bridge to the airport?
• What is the ferry time and frequency?
• Who operates the airport shuttle?
Emergency Services
Key Themes:
• Emergency Response – Several participants at this station asked questions related to how Toronto
Fire and other first responders would handle specific emergency scenarios such as missed
approaches and crashes. Some questions revolved around on-site emergency response capacity and
how first responders would access the airport in the event of an emergency. One participant asked
about fires that could occur outside of hours of operation.
Questions:
• What would happen if a plane crashes in the winter? What resources are available to manage this
situation?
• How many firetrucks does the airport have?
• What is the relationship between PortsToronto and Toronto Fire Services?
• What is the possibility of having tours of safety facilities for students?
Security and Public Safety
Key Themes:
• Security Procedures – Several participants had questions about security procedures. This included
questions related to the progress of establishing American customs clearance within Billy Bishop
Airport, how passengers are monitored, who manages security, and how Toronto Police Services are
utilized at the airport.
• Additional Security Concerns – Some participants asked questions related to external safety
concerns such as drone interference and increases in demand for air travel.
Questions:
• What is the status of American customs clearance at Billy Bishop Airport?
• What information on security and public safety will be included in the Master Plan?
• Who is G4S? Where are they headquartered?
• Has the airport had issues with drones?
• Are there Toronto Police at the Airport full time?
• Do people get monitored in the tunnel?
• What is the cost to taxpayers for the use of Toronto Police Services?
9PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Airport Infrastructure Projects
Key Themes:
• Airport Expansion/Runway Extension – Several participants questioned how infrastructure projects
would affect airport operations. Specifically, participants expressed concern that the airport would
increase in size. Many participants also wanted clarification as to whether or not the airport
runways would be extended and how Runway End Safety Areas would be addressed.
• General Airport Infrastructure and Renovations – Participants raised questions about what airport
infrastructure improvements have been made recently. Some participants wanted to know what
infrastructure projects were being considered as part of the Master Plan. This included questions
related to runway maintenance, fuel storage, and glycol containment.
• Noise Mitigation – Some participants had questions about how infrastructure related to noise
mitigation would be improved in the Master Plan. Several participants were pleased with the
reduction in noise following the installation of the Ground Run-up Enclosure.
Questions:
• Are there plans to expand the size of the airport? Are runways going to be extended?
• Will fuel storage be increased?
• What was the impact of flooding on the airport in the summer of 2017?
• Is anything changing in relation to glycol containment?
• What was the reason for airport renovations in the summer of 2017?
• Will the runways be repaved?
• What is being done to mitigate noise issues? Will the noise barrier be built despite the decision to
not extend the runway for jets?
• What infrastructure improvements were implemented as part of the 2012 Master Plan?
• Who owns the airport terminal?
• Why are investments in airport infrastructure being made when the Tripartite Agreement expires in
2033?
• How do taxes fund airport operations? What taxes are collected from the airport (e.g., property
taxes)?
Environmental Sustainability
Key Themes:
• Effect of the airport on public health – Several questions were posed related to how airport
operations affect public health. One participant recommended that Toronto Public Health be
involved in the Master Plan process.
• Effect of the airport on the environment – Questions related to the airport’s impact on the
environment were raised at this station. Questions specifically addressed air quality, and the
airport’s carbon footprint. One participant suggested the PortsToronto should think about global
environmental issues instead of thinking about the environment on local scale. One person stated
10PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
that opportunities to improve environmental sustainability needed to be included in the Master
Plan.
• Airplane Idling – Airplane idling was addressed as a serious concern related to the additional
pollution caused by engines running while airplanes are stationary.
Questions:
• What are the potential positive outcomes for the environment if the airport was to close?
• What are the effects of airplane emissions on public health?
Southern Ontario Airports Network (SOAN)
Key Themes:
• Interest about SOAN and how it operates – Many participants indicated that this was the first time
they had heard about SOAN. Several questions were asked about how SOAN operates and how the
network will manage aviation demand.
• General aviation needs – Some participants raised questions about the need to accommodate small
business aviation and general aviation. Some participants mentioned that increased demand for
commercial aviation has squeezed out smaller aviation operations from several airports in Southern
Ontario. Participants interested in this topic wanted to ensure that their needs would be balanced
with commercial aviation demand.
• Addressing Pollution – Several participants expressed concern about the increased demand for
commercial aviation in Southern Ontario. Many wanted to know if and how Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and other pollutants would be addressed.
Questions:
• How are the needs of private pilots and general aviation being addressed?
• What considerations are being made for improvements in other forms of technology that will make
airports and air travel redundant?
• What is the level of support for other local airports?
• What is SOAN and how does it operate?
• How is SOAN addressing pollution caused by air travel?
• How will budget airlines like Swoop and Flare impact airports in the SOAN?
• Why hasn’t the Muskoka Airport been considered for the network?
• Is the Pickering Airport still in the works?
• Why hasn’t the UP Express affected business at Billy Bishop Airport more significantly?
11PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
4. Presentation and Q&A
Presentation: Master Plan Process and Objectives
Following the open house session, a presentation on the 2018 Airport Master Plan process and
objectives was given by Gene Cabral, PortsToronto, and Greg Ballentine, WSP (Appendix A). Michelle
Dagnino, Lura Consulting, commenced the meeting by welcoming participants and thanking them for
their attendance and feedback. Ms. Dagnino explained the purpose of the evening’s meeting, reviewed
the agenda for the meeting’s second portion and reminded participants that this is just their first
opportunity to provide feedback on the Master Planning process. Ms. Dagnino then turned the floor
over to Gene Cabral.
Mr. Cabral began his presentation by thanking participants for attending the meeting and provided a
brief introduction to his title and role at PortsToronto as the Executive Vice President of Billy Bishop
Airport. He stated that he was looking forward to hearing early feedback from participants on the
Master Planning process. Mr. Cabral then invited Greg Ballentine to the stage. Mr. Ballentine introduced
himself to the audience and described WSP’s role in the development of the Master Plan.
Mr. Cabral reminded participants that the Master Plan process is just beginning and that the night’s
events were the first step in the consultation process. He stressed that the Master Plan is not about jets
as there is no intention to introduce jet aircraft to the airport and that the Master Plan will be focused
on compliance within the Tripartite agreement. Mr. Cabral then gave a brief overview of Billy Bishop
Toronto City’s Airport’s current operations which includes commercial aviation (conducted by Air
Canada and Porter Airlines, small commercial operations, general aviation, a flight school, and Ornge.
The presentation proceeded with an overview of what a Master Plan is. This included a review of the
main objectives and components of a typical Master Plan. Mr. Cabral noted that the Master Plan is not a
regulatory document and therefore is not required, but is being developed to keep within best
management practices that are typical of most airports in Canada. He emphasized that the Master Plan
will help to inform improvements to airport infrastructure and will assist in improving efficiency. The
Master Plan will define short, medium, and long-term goals over a twenty-year planning horizon. Mr.
Cabral clarified that the twenty-year horizon does not assume an automatic renewal of the Tripartite
agreement that governs the airport, but follows standard planning practice. He also reviewed the
Master Plan process’s four phases and stated that the final document should be completed by early
2019.
Mr. Cabral described how the Master Plan would work in relationship to other initiatives in the city
including the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan, the Waterfront Transit Reset and the Southern
Ontario Airport Network. Mr. Cabral reviewed the consultation and engagement plan and highlighted
the ways in which stakeholders, community groups, First Nations communities, and the public would be
engaged over the course of the process. He encouraged participants to visit the project website
12PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
(www.BillyBishopAirport MasterPlan2018.com) for regular updates. The presentation concluded with an
overview of the project’s next steps including a second public meeting and open house on development
options which is tentatively set for June of 2018.
Facilitated Question and Answer Session
The following represents a summary of the question and answer session that followed the presentation.
The summary is not verbatim. Questions posed by the participants are noted with a ‘Q,’ comments made
by participants are represented by a ‘C,’ and answers provided by Gene Cabral or Greg Ballentine are
represented by an ‘A.’
Q. You mentioned that there are improvements that can be done. I’m wondering why flights are
not scheduled so that there wouldn’t be four, five or six planes idling on the tarmac spewing
noxious fumes that cause discomfort for nearby residents. Some planes idle for up to forty
minutes. Why don’t you schedule flights so that this is prevented? You say you care about the
community. Solving issues with plane idling would demonstrate that to us. The fumes are
unhealthy and are preventing us from enjoying our balconies or simple walks along the
waterfront.
A. Idling is a big concern and we take it seriously. We have construction on our terminal that
reduced gate capacity from ten gates to nine. We also had weather issues with surrounding
airports that caused issues with gate capacity. We’re expecting after construction to have eleven
gates so that will help. We do measure gate holds and we hope to improve idling issues. We
hope to demonstrate that we’re working to provide a solution.
Q. Thank you for consulting the community. I’m concerned about the lack of reports from Airbiz
and Urban Strategies in your work. The effects of landside traffic are significant in comparison to
the service that the airport provides. From a traffic management standpoint there are issues
related to the inability to expand road capacity in the Bathurst and Lakeshore area. BA Group
has released a report that states there should be a limit on air traffic to solve these traffic issues.
Why are these reports not referenced?
A. We are aware of these reports. However, those reports based their numbers on the potential of
jets that was discussed during the Runway Extension Environmental Assessment. We’ve since
seen model splits improve to address traffic concerns. We did see traffic increase on local
streets from Gardiner Expressway ramp closures and changes to Queens Quay, however there is
already a difference with the Yonge-Bay-York Gardiner Ramp opening.
Q. Where do your traffic studies come from? Dillon Consulting?
A. Some of that information does come from Dillon consulting. We also are looking at our
commercial vehicles that currently come down Eireann Quay to service the island in terms of
waste disposal and other services. We are looking to other options.
Q. Can we get a commitment to 1200 passengers hourly?
A. Our consultants will look at traffic impacts and assist us in determining what the appropriate
passenger number could be.
13PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Q. I have a concern about plane idling. I don’t know why you haven’t told Porter Airlines that they
cannot allow their planes to idle. It’s oppressive to those who enjoy the waterfront. Yet, you let
them do it despite the lack of capacity. That is wrong and offensive to the community. I want to
address another issue. The growth numbers for Pearson and regional growth. We need to look
at carbon emission reduction targets. One way to cut that down is by reducing air travel. We
need to cut back drastically.
A. The Master Plan will absolutely take into consideration those commitments to carbon emission
reductions. We’ve issued two sustainability reports. We need to look at the things we can do to
improve the airport’s operations. We are looking into single-engine taxi, electric vehicle usage,
and hybrid vehicles. We will look to the government as well to take on every initiative that we
can.
C. It’s not about your day-to-day airport operations. It’s about the growth of aviation. We can’t fly
without damaging the environment. We need to forecast a future that cuts back on flying. That
needs to be fit into the Master Plan.
C. I’ve lived in Toronto for a long time. There’s not many cities in the world that have the
waterfront that we do. I think it’s a shame that It has been turned into a commercial airport.
Q. I had a discussion with Greg Ballentine of WSP earlier. I want to reiterate my hope that you will
commit to looking into an alternative to Runway End Safety Areas instead of paving the lake.
Please use the airport’s existing footprint.
A. We’re currently waiting for Transport Canada on that decision. I can only speak from the
PortsToronto perspective.
Q. I see that you have a stellar group of professionals working with you. Do you have any
healthcare professionals on your team? I personally enjoy using the airport, but the fumes are
an issue. There are cardiovascular issues, lung cancer, birth defects, and more. What’s being
done to address health? That should be a priority.
A. That’s a great perspective. We are also concerned about the environment. Toronto Public
Health is not here today, but they do come to the Community Liaison Committee meetings and
have shared some information from the 2013 Golder Report. I won’t go through all the details,
the report is online, but I would encourage you to look at it. One of the major concerns from
that report is ground side traffic such as what exists on the Gardiner. Public Health will be
working with us into the future. We are looking towards mitigating factors, such as switching
our ferries from diesel to electric.
Q. I’m concerned about climate change, which is a key factor for long term planning. Last summer’s
rain is an example of climate change. How will you consider climate change in the Master Plan?
A. I’ll address that question in relation to existing operations. It was an unfortunate summer. We
did have some breaches of our dockwalls, but we were able to maintain operations. Some
14PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
operations, however, did become challenging. We are working on addressing our operations in
perspective to climate change through things such as planning for a 100-year storm event.
C. It happened again today. I almost got killed. A taxi whipped around a corner and almost hit me.
It happens all the time. What will it take for this to change? A kid getting killed? For the size of
the airport, the ground-side access is too limited. It’s really dangerous for the community.
Additionally, I’ve watched your shuttle bus for decades. It’s polluting and almost always empty.
It’s wasteful.
A. The shuttle bus has gone through some transformation. It used to be a forty-foot bus. It is a
smaller bus now. We worked with the City of Toronto to design our shuttle service. It’s the first
thing you see out of the tunnel and we worked with the City to gain access to Union Station and
we now also have access to the Royal York Hotel. We run four buses on a continual loop. Our
numbers demonstrate that usage is up.
C. I have a suggestion for the shuttle. Quebec and Montreal are innovative. They have ecological
options for buses. The buses you use are probably very old as they are smelly and seem to give
off a lot of emissions. Look to other cities that use more environmentally friendly buses.
A. To just answer you on that, the buses were new in 2016. We will consider looking into other
options.
C. I remember when the Tripartite agreement was created. It was intended to prevent commercial
aviation. I remember in 1982 when housing was built on the nearby island. I think the airport
should be stopped. There shouldn’t be additional traffic. I was appalled that the laws preventing
a fixed link to the airport were overturned to put a new law in that would allow the tunnel.
Many people think that’s why Barbara Hall lost the election. She gave the deciding vote that
allowed for exploring a fixed link to the airport.
Q. I noticed that the planning window is twenty years with an update every five years. I also
noticed that the Tripartite Agreement only goes until 2033. I think we can all agree that the
waterfront revitalization has been tremendous. All the new parks are great. You notice all the
foot traffic and the new cyclists. It’s fantastic. I’d like to know that as an organization, if there is
the potential that the airport could be shutting down in 2033 that you are planning for that or
have a contingency plan for when the Tripartite Agreement expires. If not, why?
A. We also support what has happened along the waterfront. We see ourselves within the
waterfront of Toronto. We’re interested in protecting the balance that exists there. There are a
lot of users of the airport that also access the waterfront. The Master Plan does not presuppose
that the airport will exist beyond 2033. We are mandated under the Tripartite Agreement to
operate the airport until 2033. I don’t know what the anticipated numbers for growth at the
airport yet, but that is what the Master Plan is for.
Q. When are you expecting a decision on RESAs to come up?
15PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
A. We don’t have that information. We’ve submitted our responses to Transport Canada. We’re
expecting robust consultation from them, but we do not know yet.
Q. Will you take a position on that? Expanding the runways?
A. It’s not about expanding runways, it’s about meeting regulations. We won’t be exempt from
Transport Canada’s regulations, but we will be consulting the community when that comes
about.
Q. Is there going to be a maximum level of business that you’re considering under the Master Plan?
Businesses operate on growth. You will face tremendous pressure from Porter and Air Canada.
We want to know if you’ll tell them that they cannot grow anymore.
A. We have a cap based on airplane movements based on the NEF Contour. We predict that the
Master Plan will reconfigure movements that comply with the NEF requirements. One of the
things that Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is branded on is its ease of access. We’re looking to
create a balance from the side of both the surrounding community and our passengers. It’s not
about Air Canada. It’s not about Porter. We’re looking to find our best balance of operations. To
be open and transparent with you, we do speak with all stakeholders no matter how small. It’s
not about a single airline. Those airlines operate less than forty-five percent of all overall
operations at the airport.
C. The purpose of this meeting is to get input on the Master Plan. Well, I’ve heard two issues with
the Master Plan. You’ve ignored climate change. There seems to be no mention of this. The
experts are saying there is a huge crisis with airline travel as there seems to be no solution to
increasing outputs of gasses, especially carbon. If your Master Plan has to deal with anything, it
has to be that. The other thing your Master Plan ignores is the growth of downtown Toronto.
I’ve opposed this airport as it relates to the continued growth of the downtown core. If this is
worth anything it has to deal with the redevelopment of the waterfront. That’s part of Toronto’s
promise to be a great city. I believe it. I’ll be looking to this process to see how you deal with
these two things. Any expansion of operations would be disastrous for downtown Toronto. I
also want to see you answer for climate change. Your growth always seems to be on the incline.
We need to deal with climate change. Figure out how you’re going to deal with it.
Q. Thank you for consulting the community. There have been a few threads coming through. They
tie into each other. When you look into the financial statement for PortsToronto and the traffic,
and you look at the dollars, you will see that Porter accounts for eighty percent of profits. There
is an agreement with Porter that sees their contract extend until 2033. If Porter fails, do you
have a contingency plan? Porter presents a huge risk to the airport and to the viability of
PortsToronto itself.
A. Thank you for your points. You’re right. We’ve talked about eighty percent of our business
coming from airlines. Porter is our base carrier. They possess about eighty-five percent of our
slots. Many airports have base carriers. For example, Air Canada makes up for a large portion of
Pearson International Airport’s business. We do, however, have diversity from smaller scale
16PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
operations as well. Do we look at diversity, risk and the marketplace? Absolutely. That’s
something we’re mindful of. Porter doesn’t have the only voice at our airport. We meet will all
other stakeholders regularly.
Q. Will the masterplan cover revenue streams from other sources other than Porter Airlines?
A. It’s too early to say that. I’m sure there will be some market analysis. Diversity will certainly be
taken into consideration. A limiting factor for our airport are slot caps. We will have to take
those into consideration.
Q. I want to clarify something that I thought I heard you say. Did you say the number of people
flying through the airport has gone from 22,000 to 2,800,000? It seems like our neighbourhood
has sustained a lot without you even realizing the negative consequence that type of growth
would have on the people that live here. This is an airport that exists within an area that has no
buffer. I don’t know another airport that is so close to schools and residences. Does that sound
like a sustainable situation? Does this type of growth make sense to you?
A. The airport has existed since 1939. The numbers have fluctuated. However, we had double the
operations we see today during the 1960s.
C. No one lived there then.
A. I understand that, but we are mandated to operate at a certain level. We didn’t put those
properties there. However, we want to address how we operate in relation to the properties
that have been built over the course of our existence.
Q. The City of Toronto has been working on the Transform Toronto Plan and also on a Climate
Change Plan. I want to know if you intend to interact with these two plans.
A. I mentioned earlier some of the studies we are working through. We are working closely with
the City of Toronto and we look for opportunities to better link with their initiatives. We have
regular meetings with city staff. I’m aware that the city has a new Resiliency Officer and we will
look to work with them.
Q. Has anyone looked to the cost benefit of recovering the airport as a park instead of proposed
Rail Deck Park in 2033?
A. The 2033 expiry of the Tripartite Agreement does not presume the land automatically becomes
a park. Its not a simple yes or no answer. I’m not sure if the city has explored that.
C. I agree with a lot of the comments made here tonight. I was shocked by the increase of the
airports operations as well. I want you to consider balance. That would also account for
livability. It’s not just the cost benefits of expansion. It should consider the environment, health,
and additional livability factors. I want you to really remember that. The growth of the airport
benefits a few. When you look at the balance of livability, it’s really quite important. Send WSP
to the waterfront. Observe what it is like to live here. Really experience it. Do consultations with
17PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
children. I’m sure my daughter would give you excellent feedback on what its like to live here.
We need to consider our youth and our children more.
Q. I remember when the island was a sleepy airport. It sounds like you’re trying to work with the
community, and that’s good, but where does the health and welfare of the community come
into the design of the Master Plan? Why are the existing thresholds not being presented
tonight? Why are you not putting people before passengers? You have a responsibility to us. I
want to know what the air quality is and how it is affected by the airport. I am begging you to be
more aware. Put our health first. Demonstrate to us what the thresholds are. We need write ups
and we need to know what the tolerable and livable levels of pollution are.
A. This is something the Master Plan will take into consideration.
Q. Thank you for hosting this meeting. You’ve been clear that your mandate is to run the airport
efficiently. What do you see as the top three problems affecting the airport?
A. I’d say that the questions coming up tonight reflect issues arising at many airports, not just ours.
That would include health, the environment, and the effects of operations on the environment.
Q. That wasn’t my question. I was asking what your concerns are.
A. Your concerns are also our concerns. We’ve done some work to engage with the community and
build trust, but clearly there is more work to do.
Q. Let’s say you consulted many different groups and all said the same things related to concerns
about the airport’s operations. Let’s say there were a bunch of studies that also said the effects
of the airport were too great. Would you be able to reduce the number of flights to address
these negative effects if there was a consensus? The Medical Officer of Health said back in 2013-
2014 that the airport should be decreasing in size. Can you demonstrate such? Can you, or will
you, decrease airport operations?
A. There are a couple issues here. There is the Golder Report. There is specific information in that
report, but there is also information regarding what contributes to the pollution. For example,
pollution from the Gardiner. We’re not just looking into the Master Plan from a business
operations standpoint, but also from the standpoint of our mandate. We will be looking into
ways to achieve balance in the Master Planning process.
C. The city is growing and we’re welcoming thousands of new Torontonians. I realize that those
people use the airport. I realize that it’s a lost cause to fight the airport as this is a modern city.
We need the airport at this time. I benefit greatly from this airport. I don’t think my business
could operate without it. I want to see attention paid to the optimization of noise and pollution
reduction. Show the community that you are doing everything you can. Reduce wherever you
can. Perhaps through airport vehicles. Maybe the airplanes cannot change, but demonstrate
that you’re considering all other options. Work with the city to reduce gridlock around the
airport, especially during special events.
18PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Q. Back in 1993 there was a report from then PortsToronto CEO Lisa Raitt that came out during
discussions about the bridge to the airport. She said that the bridge to the airport was
absolutely essential to get enough emergency vehicles to the airport in the event of an
emergency. We got access to that report through the Freedom of Information Act. It said that it
would be essential for forty-six vehicles to get to the airport within twenty minutes or people
would die in just a fifty-passenger crash. There has been nothing done to address this since and
we know that because of FOI requests. If there was a crash it would be catastrophic. You are not
considering people’s safety in the event of a serious crash. You’re putting passengers at risk.
A. I’m not going to talk about a report that is nearly twenty-five years old or comments made by
our staff fifteen years ago. I want to say that we do take safety very seriously. We have
modernized our fire trucks. We also went from six firefighters to eighteen stationed at our
firehall. That is well above the standard. We’ve done simulations every year as well as table
tops. We test our systems. I can assure you that we have the ability to respond to emergency
situations.
Q. Where are your safety studies? I know that when you do those simulations the trucks are
already on sight.
A. We are mandated to do safety exercises every two years. We do them every year to make sure
the safety requirements are there.
Q. Strategic planning is a great opportunity to consider your role and identity. I think it would be
good if PortsToronto would consider real strategic planning at this time. The Port is far more
than an airport. If you want to do strategic planning you need to consider the overall thing that
you’re doing. I want to put this challenge forward. PortsToronto, will you start a strategic
planning exercise to look into opportunities for all of your operations? There is a lot more that
you could be focusing your attention on.
A. Yes, I can take your comments back to PortsToronto.
Q. I want to know why there is so much traffic along Stadium Road specifically related to the
parking lot. What’s going on with the parking lot and what can be done to calm traffic?
A. The parking lot on Stadium Road is leased by the City of Toronto to us. It is run by a third-party
called Stolport. Part of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan is to look at the entire area
including that parking lot. Part of the longer-term plan is also to consolidate parking.
Q. Your biggest revenue generator is Porter Airlines. It tried to go public twice, but was rejected
because it would not release its financial statements. Do you have access to those statements?
A. I cannot comment on their business or their IPO attempts, but from our perspective we’ve seen
growth in their operations. They recently purchased new aircraft.
Q. I want to address your comments about cars causing more pollution than planes. What is your
evidence for that? I can think of some studies where the evidence would say otherwise.
19PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
A. I’m referencing the Golder Report. Clearly something we have to do is bring Toronto Public
Health into the conversation.
5. Next Steps
Michelle Dagnino, Lura Consulting, thanked participants for their thoughtful questions and comments
during the question and answer session and for attending the meeting. She reminded participants to
submit feedback forms and email additional comments or questions to the project team by the February
21st deadline. She reiterated that there would be additional opportunities for consultation including
second public meeting slated to take place mid-2018 and a third meeting closer to the end of the year.
Ms. Dagnino reminded participants to stay tuned to the project website for updates.
20PortsToronto Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Master Plan 2018 – Public Meeting and Open House #1 Summary
Appendix A - Presentation
212018 Airport Master Plan Public Meeting and Open House February 7, 2018
Overview
• PortsToronto and Billy Bishop Airport
• Background on Airport Master Plan – process, objectives and key components
• Managed Growth Strategy
• Connectivity to other initiatives including:
• Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan
• Waterfront Transit Reset
• Southern Ontario Airport Network (SOAN)
• Consultation and Engagement Plan
• Next Steps
2• Billy Bishop Airport is owned and operated by PortsToronto. Established under the
Canada Marine Act in 1999, PortsToronto is a government business enterprise that is
mandated to be financially self-sufficient and receives no federal, provincial or
municipal funding.
• PortsToronto has four main business units including Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
3Billy Bishop Airport: Background
• Billy Bishop Airport was built in 1939 with its operations being governed by a Tripartite
Agreement (1983-2033) between PortsToronto, Transport Canada and the City of
Toronto.
• Billy Bishop Airport is an important international gateway and served 2.8 million
passengers in 2017, 2.1 million of which were non-connecting/local passengers.
• Commercial Air Carriers at Billy Bishop Airport offer flights to more than 20 destinations
in Canada and the United States with connection opportunities to more than 80 locations
around the world via our airlines’ networks.
• The airport is also home to several non-terminal commercial carriers such as FlyGTA that
offers service to Niagara, Waterloo, Barrie and London, Ontario, and Pascan Aviation
operating to St. Hubert, Quebec.
4Billy Bishop Airport: Background
• Billy Bishop Airport has two award-winning commercial air carriers in Porter Airlines and
Air Canada and is the ninth-busiest airport in Canada and the sixth-busiest Canadian
airport serving the United States.
• The airport is also a base for an air ambulance service with approximately 4,500 flights
per year, and is home to a sizable personal aviation community.
• Billy Bishop Airport’s capacity is governed by operations and noise restrictions contained
within a Tripartite Agreement making it one of North America’s most noise and capacity
restricted airport.
• The airport is also home to several non-terminal commercial carriers such as FlyGTA that
offers service to Niagara, Waterloo, Barrie and London, Ontario, and Pascan Aviation
operating to St. Hubert, Quebec.
5Master Planning Background
• A Master Plan, also called a comprehensive plan, provides a long-range vision for the
built environment which guides the appropriate use of lands and assists airport
management in making informed decisions regarding future development.
• An Airport Master Plan is not a regulatory document. However it is a best management
practice, which all levels of government/agencies use as a long-term planning tool.
• NAS (National Airport System) Airports when created by the Federal Government have
built into their land leases a requirement to complete and submit to Transport Canada a
Master Plan every 10 years with an update at the 5 year milestone. This requirement
does not apply for Billy Bishop Airport as it is not a NAS Airport.
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