Happy new year to you and all your blog followers and contributors.

Let me introduce myself. I’m Suzanna Birchwood, and I started working at the Port Authority on September 1, 2010, as the first public affairs director the TPA has had in many years.

In creating this position the Port Authority is sending a message that it values community input and expanding relations with all of its stakeholders. My number one job is to make sure that we engage effectively with all of our partners. I welcome your comments on how well I do that.

In the next couple of days I’m going to get and post a response to the queries raised in this blog, but in the meanwhile, let me address some of the issues raised in Mr Iler’s Christmas day posting.

First, I guess it can’t be said enough: the Toronto Port Authority – including Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - is not financed publicly. The airport, like all TPA managed businesses is self funded, and does not qualify for or receive public funding support.

All capital projects at the BBTCA are paid for internally or through the Airport Improvement Fee ( AIF) charged to embarking passengers- essentially user fees.

In fact, the TPA is a net contributor to the public purse. I encourage you to check out a ‘fast facts’ document, posted on the TPA website in November which addresses this, and other issues that have confused the public, at http://torontoport.com/PortAuthority/media_content.asp?id=487.

Secondly, the noise management report Mr Iler mentions – although hard to find on our website – is still available at http://www.torontoport.com/reports/BBTCA-NoiseMgmtInterimReport-Feb2010.pdf.
I am in the process of updating the website, with a target date for introduction in February or March. I do hope that the revamped site will both allow you to find information more easily and to have a dialogue with me and the rest of the TPA about your concerns, and interests.

I would welcome if someone out there in the blogosphere would join a small group of ‘testers’ I’m setting up for a one hour test drive of the new site later this month. If you’re interested, please contact me at sbirchwood@torontoport.com.