Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly says the proposed expansion of Toronto’s island airport has nothing to do with Porter Airlines and everything to do with “growing an asset.”
Kelly made the comment to reporters at city hall on Monday afternoon, ahead of an anticipated showdown on the floor of council over the future of the busy facility.
The debate comes as Porter wages an exhaustive publicity campaign touting the advantages of extending the runway in order to allow its new Bombardier CS100 jets to begin using the airport.
Jet-powered aircraft are currently banned at the island airport, which is governed by a Tripartite Agreement signed in 1983 by the city, Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and Transport Canada.
“It has nothing to do with Porter. Porter could cease to exist as an airline tomorrow and the economic opportunities that exist at that island airport regardless of the carriers would continue,”Kelly said Monday. “We are looking at growing an asset, which is the airport. That’s the focus.”
Mayor Rob Ford has previously called on council to “move on” with approving the expansion of the island airport, however last week executive committee instead voted 11-1 in favour of asking staff to embark on negotiations that could lead to a conditional acceptance of sorts, with limits on the number and size of aircrafts allowed.
Speaking with reporters Monday, Kelly admitted those negotiations would stretch well into the next term of council but said that he was confident the new council would respect the process and approve the negotiated terms of acceptance.
“I think that if the other sides negotiate in good faith it will be very difficult to turn your back on those good faith negotiations,” he said.
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