Submitted by TCCA Association
Those who attended the meeting of the Waterfront Reference
Group Oct. 8, at City Hall will agree that the momentum was in the pro-TCCA
camp’s favour. The Toronto Port Authority Chairman, Henry Pankratz, and CEO,
Lisa Raitt, led the charge taking a strong, affirmative position on the
revitalization of Toronto City Centre Airport. The TPA outlined its conservative
business plan to make this a reality and also announced that it had concluded an
operating agreement with a second regional carrier, Regco.
Regco CEO Robert Deluce confirmed his airline plan for the island airport and
highlighted the tremendous job-creation and economic benefits that will result.
He was supported by raucous cheers of support from more than 200 CAW Locals 112
and 673, who would benefit from an aircraft order by Regco if City Council votes
in favour of the airport. Council is to make a decision by the end of October.
Members from Universal Workers Union Local 183 also attended the meeting in
support of the construction jobs that would be created by the TCCA projects
(bridge and terminal).
Elyse Allan, Chair, Toronto Board of Trade also signaled the business
community’s unequivocal support for the revitalization of the island airport as
a key economic asset and what enhanced regional airline service to City Centre
would do for Toronto and Waterfront Redevelopment.
Those who spoke in favour of the TCCA all had valuable factual information to
share with Councillors on specific topics. For example, there were experts such
as Pat Fagnano, Duty Manager at the TCCA, who has managed the Airport’s noise
monitoring process since 1995, and Joe Altieri, TCCA Air Traffic Controller.
There were also individuals who took it upon themselves to conduct extensive
research on certain topics to refute myths put forward by the oppostion.
Specifically, Allan Fenton and Drew Bowles refuted arguments made by the
opposition that airports can be linked to health problems, and clearly conveyed
that this argument is a red herring. John Spragge talked about the national
importance of the island airport; some of us with businesses at the TCCA deputed
(including Alex Giannelia); Dave Bale of Advanced Air Ambulance discussed
directly with several Councillors the importance of the TCCA as a Medevac
facility; and Bob Fear, Manager of Q400 Product Planning at Bombardier spoke
about the merits of the Q400. All messages were strong and the momentum achieved
should put us on strong footing going into the joint-committee meeting on
October 24th.
If you have any questions, please contact: Kevin Smith: Co-Chair, TCCA
Association, 416-203-3280; Anthony Pappalardo: Co-Chair, TCCA Association,
416-203-2323 ext. 229; Janet MacDonald: Toronto Port Authority, 416-863-2026;
Ken Thomson: Regional Airlines Holdings Inc., 416-526-7047.