The apparent success of the island airport, good news surveys and the TPA’s stunning financial achievements are certain agenda items for the Toronto Port Authority’s (TPA) annual meeting.  However, not so easy to spin is the state of the Unwin Street White Elephant, the TPA as environmentally friendly and the fate of a couple of Request For Proposals.


First Cruise Vessel

Will we get any more information on the state and fate of the International Marine Passenger Terminal (Terminal) at the eastern end of the harbour?

On June 19, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) announced in a press release the arrival of the first cruise vessel, M.V. Clelia II, in port for 2010.  While the TPA’s press release mentioned a total of 14 stops at Toronto, the cruise company’s website shows 11 for the 2010 cruise season.
www.traveldynamicsinternational.com/cruisedetails.asp?type=dest&regionid=9&dest=NORTH%20AMERICA#CRUISESTOP />
Whatever the number of stops, all cruise ships will berth at the Terminal at the eastern approach to the harbour.  The $10.5 million facility was built to accommodate the thousands of passengers travelling on the Toronto-Rochester fast ferry.  A year after it was built, the Toronto-Rochester fast ferry ceased operations.  

In between M.V. Clelia II stops, the Terminal is available for rent and for film shoots. It housed sets for the CBC broadcast drama The Border which ended after three seasons.

The appropriately named Terminal is hardly detailed at all on the TPA website other than for a few photos.  Surely, the huge, over-extended airline terminal at the western end of the harbour, home to a heavily indebted airline won’t suffer the same ignominy.


Greenwashing

The annual meeting gives the TPA a wonderful opportunity to blow its own green horn.  

The TPA is a member of the Green Marine Program, a partnership for a sustainable future undertaken by the St. Lawrence – Great Lakes maritime industry in both Canada and the U.S.

When the TPA began to purchase 100 per cent of its electricity for all operations from renewable sources such as wind and hydro through Bullfrog Power in 2010, Green Marine called it a success story.  However, Green Marine seems to have ignored the other side to the TPA’s practices.  

The TPA encourages growing amounts of aircraft fuel emissions to spew over Toronto’s Waterfront from its airport property.  By increasing the number of slots (aircraft take-offs and landings) at the island airport and allowing Air Canada and Continental Airlines to join the resident carrier, the TPA ensures waterfront visitors and residents will breathe in even more toxins’

However, the TPA has an out.  The Green Marine Program is about the voluntary commitment to improving its environmental record.  So far the TPA’s commitment seems somewhat selective.  It gets kudos for buying green power even while supporting aircraft emissions, though Green Marine has identified pollutant air emissions and greenhouse gases as #2 and #3 in its list of priority environmental issues.

In its 2009-2010 summary of progress made by participants of the green marine
environmental priorities, Green Marine scores the TPA at a Level 1 for greenhouse gases.  Level 1 indicates regulatory compliance while level 5 represents excellence and leadership.  For other TPA results see www.green-marine.org/images/stories/results2010.pdf. />

Money is for Spending

Flush with coffers full of Airport Improvement Fees (AIFs), the TPA very quietly called for two Requests For Proposals (RFP).  One is wrapped in motherhood, the second - maybe not so much.

On May 28, MERX, Canada's electronic tendering service, published an RFP for an airport rescue and fire fighting equipment shelter extension.  Work involves demolishing a wall and erecting an addition which includes a new truck bay and a mezzanine.

As the MERX site details, the project involves demolishing the south wall of the existing rescue and fire fighting equipment shelter, construction of an addition to the shelter, complete with a new truck bay with a dedicated exhaust system and a mezzanine area.

It’s hard to argue against spending good money to make sure that the airport emergency resources are properly housed.  After all, even a mini-Mirabel needs adequate response services.

The other RFP, dated March 18, is for website redesign and development.  The TPA wants a more dynamic website, one that allows new content to appear more quickly.  The new website will feature social media applications such as forums, chat help, blogs and other social media applications.

Perhaps the TPA is preparing to face off blogo a blogo with some of its detractors.  The new site is sure to bring the TPA electronically into the 20th Century.

Bob Kotyk