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Home My WebLink AboutCAO 13-05PICKERING REPORT TO COUNCIL Report Number: CAO 13-05 Date: November 2, 2005 From: Thomas J. Quinn Chief Administrative Officer Subject: Transport Canada - Federal Airport Lands - Due Diligence Review of Airport Master Plan - File: D-7600-003 Recommendation: That Report CAO 13-05 concerning the Federal Government's due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering be received. That the Federal Government be advised that Pickering Council supports the completion of a due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's (GTAA's) Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering, by the Federal Minister of Transport. That the Federal Minister of Transport be requested to ensure that the due diligence review provides ample opportunity for Pickering Council and interested members of the community to participate in the process. That the Federal Minister of Transport be requested to ensure the due diligence review includes (but is not necessarily limited to) the following broad considerations: (i) A comprehensive airport supply and demand analysis of airport traffic growth, and a review of airport governance in southern Ontario. (ii) A comprehensive business case analysis of a potential airport in Pickering. (iii) A peer review of the GTAA's Airport Master Plan and supporting documentation. That a copy of this Report and resolutions be forwarded to the Federal Minister of Transport, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Region of Durham, Members of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering and Pickering-Scarborough East, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge. Report to Council CAO 13-05 Subject: Transport Canada - Due Diligence Review Date: November 2, 2005 Page 2 113 Executive Summary: This Report provides a position on the federal government's "due diligence" review of the work undertaken by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) with respect to a possible regional-reliever airport on the Federal Airport lands in Pickering. The Report recommends that Council request the Federal Minister of Transport to incorporate into the due diligence review the following: a comprehensive airport supply and demand analysis of airports in southern Ontario, a business case analysis of a Pickering airport, and a peer review of the GTAA's Airport Master Plan. As well the Report recommends the Federal Minister of Transport ensure that Pickering Council and interested members of the community be given ample opportunity to participate in the due diligence review. Financial Implications: None Background: In November 2004, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) released a Pickering Airport Draft Plan setting out the concept for a regional-reliever airport that could be developed on the Federal Lands in Pickering over the next 20 years. The Draft Plan was the culmination of more than a dozen studies, and was intended as background and input to a federal environmental assessment process that the GTAA had anticipated commencing in 2005. In December 2004, Pickering Council passed Resolution #172/04 directing staff to report back to Council no later than February 7, 2005, with appropriate terms of reference, a procedure and a proposed budget for a peer review of the Pickering Airport Draft Plan and updated FAA. The Resolution also directed that a request be made to the Federal Transport Minister and the CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for sufficient funding to enable the City to acquire qualified consultants to undertake the peer review. In furtherance of this Resolution, Report CAO 04-05 was prepared and considered by Council on February 7, 2005. Council received the Report and directed staff to pursue peer review funding with the Federal Government. On February 17, 2005, the Federal Transport Minister wrote to the City advising that his department is unable to be of assistance at this time (with respect to peer review funding) because the department is currently completing its own review of the GTAA's report, and that should his department determine that further review or additional studies are required, "appropriate action will be taken." Report to Council CAO 13-05 Subject: Transport Canada - Due Diligence Review Date: November 2, 2005 Page 3 In April 2005, the Chair of the GTAA responded to the City's request for peer review funding, noting that the City and GTAA staff have been discussing this matter and reviewing the opportunities to support the City's participation within the framework of an environmental assessment. On September 9, 2005, the Federal Transport Minister issued a news release confirming that Transport Canada would be conducting a comprehensive due diligence review of all related airport planning studies and that once completed, the department will be in a position to recommend next steps, including whether or not to proceed to a federal environmental assessment for a future possible airport. At the October 3, 2005, Council Meeting, Councillor Pickles referred to the due diligence review and asked if a report would be forthcoming on this matter. Mayor Ryan requested Members of Council to provide their comments to staff so that they could be considered along with any pertinent comments received from the public, by staff in preparing a Report to Council. Staff have subsequently contacted Transport Canada to advise them of the City's interest in providing input on the nature and scope of the due diligence review. Transport Canada noted that the matter is currently under consideration, and that more details should be available shortly. Accordingly, in light of Council's long-standing interest in the Federal Lands in Pickering, and given Council's previous request for assistance to undertake a peer reView of the GTAA's work, the Federal Minister of Transport should be requested to ensure the due diligence review includes (but is not necessarily limited to) the following broad considerations: 1. A comprehensive airport supply and demand analysis of airport traffic growth in southern Ontario including the potential opportunity and role of all existing southern Ontario airports in accommodating projected airport traffic growth, and a review of airport governance in southern Ontario. A comprehensive business case analysis of a potential airport in Pickering should a Pickering airport be justified and confirmed by the airport supply and demand analysis. 3. A peer review of the GTAA's Airport Master Plan and supporting documentation. In addition, the Federal Minister of Transport should be requested to ensure the due diligence process is designed to provide ample opportunity for Pickering Council and interested members of the community to participate in the process and comment on the due diligence report before a decision is made with respect to the undertaking of a federal environmental assessment. Report to Council CAO 13-05 Subject: Transport Canada - Due Diligence Review Date: November 2, 2005 Page 4 1!5 Prepared By: Approved / Endorsed By: Thomas E. ~elyrr>dk ~ T4~omas J. ~ulrm · Division HeaS, C/'orporate Projects"&~oli_cy%._ Chief Administrative Officer TJQ:tm Copy: Directors Division Head, Corporate Projects & Policy Recommended for the consideration of Pickering Ci,ty Council . Th<~rn~s J. Qui~¢ Chief A~inistr~.~Officer/