CommunityAIR is pleased that the City of Toronto has begun to take steps to enforce the community rights contained in the tripartite agreement, which governs the Island Airport.

 Elaine Baxter-Trehir, a senior City staffer, recently sent a letter to Transport Canada.   This letter acknowledges the increasingly dire noise problems caused by the drastic expansion of the Island Airport – in three ways:

·         The Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) Contours are fixed by the tripartite agreement. They are intended to prevent noise exceeding modest levels from reaching waterfront residents. We think they are likely being exceeded now. The City has a right to require Transport Canada to carry out a new NEF Contour study. By this letter, the City has exercised that right.

·         Curfews: Porter has flagrantly violated curfews – even last Friday, two Porter Q400 aircraft took off after the 11 p,m. curfew. While the Port Authority has the authority to require that Porter respect the curfew, it has proven incapable of doing so. Involving Transport Canada may help – ultimately, it will be the City that has to take action, though, if Transport Canada and the Port Authority do not.

·         Helicopters are terribly noisy – again, under the tripartite agreement, the City has the right to require that Transport Canada specify flight paths for helicopters operatin gout of the Island Airport, to reduce their impact on waterfront residents. By this letter, the City has exercised that right.

We congratulate the City for this welcome action and hope that the federal government will act to force the Toronto Port Authority to comply with the terms of the Tripartite Agreement.