February 13, 1998
To: Striking Committee
From: Urban Environment and Development Committee
Subject: Appointment of Members of Council to the
Noise Management Committee of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Recommendation:
The Urban Environment and Development Committee on February 9, 1998, recommended to the Striking Committee, and Council, that two Members of City Council be appointed to the Noise Management Committee of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.
Background:
The Urban Environment and Development Committee on February 9, 1998, had before it the following communications:
(i) (January 8, 1998) from Mr. Louis A. Turpen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, responding to a letter dated December 1, 1997, from the former Commissioner of Administrative Services for the City of Etobicoke which included petitions from Etobicoke residents regarding night-time operations at Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA); advising that these petitions arose from test night flights that were initiated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to serve the steadily increasing demand for air travel to and from the Greater Toronto Area; stating that the GTAA presented preliminary results of the test operations at a joint public meeting on September 25, 1997, of LBPIA's two consultative committees; that there was considerable interest by residents at this meeting, and the GTAA intends to facilitate ongoing discussion by holding workshops in 1998, the first of which will be held on January 20, 1998; pointing out that the GTAA is committed to working with the local communities in a constructive and positive manner to identify and pursue solutions to operational impacts which strike a balance between airport development and community interests.
(ii) (December 1, 1997) addressed to the President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority from the Commissioner of Administrative Services and Clerk/Treasurer, City of Etobicoke, forwarding a petition which was circulated to the Etobicoke community centres, local libraries and Etobicoke City Hall regarding noise from the Pearson International Airport, as directed by the Council of the City of Etobicoke's Resolution No. 394, passed September 22, 1997.
(iii) (February 4, 1998) from Councillor Dick O'Brien, Markland-Centennial, advising that the operations of Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA) have a profound effect on the residents of his ward which is geographically located to the south of the airport; expressing concern with the reasons given by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) for its decision to perform secret night flights during restricted hours, which were carried out with no prior notification to, or consultation with, the residential communities; submitting a letter from the Federal Minister of Transport indicating that he has no plans to approve permanent changes to the published noise abatement procedures or noise operating restrictions at LBPIA; and stating that City Council should advise the GTAA that a request for any such changes would not be supported.
City Clerk
Attachment
Copy to: Councillor Dick O'Brien, Markland-Centennial
Mr. Louis A. Turpen, President and Chief Executive Officer,
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Commissioner of Planning and Urban Development Services
Interim Functional Lead for Planning
Ms. Christine Raissis, Economic Development Division
