In the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) posted a bulletin on its website, http://www.torontoport.com/PortAuthority/media_content.asp?id=414.  The bulletin announced a near doubling of take-offs and landings at its laceName w:st="on">BillylaceName> laceName w:st="on">BishoplaceName> laceName w:st="on">TorontolaceName> laceType w:st="on">CitylaceType> laceType w:st="on">AirportlaceType> (“BBTCA”).  Both the timing of the bulletin and its contents raise a number of questions.

First, the TPA, both last year, with over 60 press releases and this, with four releases so far in January, has never been shy about putting itself out there.  http://www.newswire.ca/en/search/index.cgi?Flags=31&Submit=GO&query=toronto+port+authority&GO=Go&view=release&p=1.  No subject seems too small, from photo ops to contest announcements, to warrant a paid media announcement.  Why then would  the TPA seemingly want to bury would bury the happy news that it’s about to double its airport business on Christmas Eve?

Second, bulletin addresses the question of the number of take-offs and landing would be determined through the findings of a third-party study.  The bulletin neglects to name the third party which carried out the study.  However, the elements that led to the third party findings match those that Jacobs Consultancy examined to come up with its noise management plan recommendations that the TPA is still examining. 

Did the TPA engage a second consultant to look at take-offs and landings or did it paid Jacobs Consultancy to include them in their other work?  If so, how can Jacobs Consultancy’s work be called third-party when the TPA contracted Jacob’s Consultancy to do the work?

Third, aircraft emissions produced by the near-doubling of take-offs and landings will impact neighbourhood residents.  The bulletin makes no mention of plans for community consultation or work with the Toronto Medical Officer of Health to address concerns or mitigate emissions.  Why doesn’t a subject as important as residents’ health warrant a mention in the TPA’s expansion plan?

Studying the TPA’s way of doing business form its timing of important announcements to its seeming need for secrecy to its neglect of its neighbours raises one further question.

Do the TPA’s operating principles include fear, ignorance or arrogance or all three?

Bob Kotyk