Porter Airlines' bid to fly jets in and out of Toronto's island airport may have suffered a setback with a city staff report that says it would be "premature" for council to approve the proposal before several issues or concerns are resolved.

The report recommends council delay its decision on Porter's expansion plan until 2015 to allow for further study, planning and regulatory approvals. If the decision is delayed, the controversial proposal would likely become a major issue in next year's municipal election.

Porter is seeking approval from the city, federal government and Toronto Port Authority to extend the runway by 200 metres at each end and operate jet-powered aircraft at the waterfront airport. The changes would allow Porter to increase its fleet and expand its network to farther destinations in North America.

In the report, city officials say council should hold off on its decision because there is no clear direction or plan for airport expansion, what airside and groundside infrastructure requirements are needed and how they will be funded. Staff are calling for an airport master plan that would include a vision for the airport, business and finance plan and estimated passenger growth.

The report also addresses concerns about aircraft noise, saying a study that is exploring whether the jets are too loud has not been completed.

The jets have not received final noise certification from Transport Canada.

The report suggests the partners adopt measures to improve conditions related to noise, traffic congestion and any conflicts with the waterfront, schools or taxi firms.

Staff are also hesitant to move forward with the proposal in its current state because the Toronto Port Authority has not released its report on the feasibility and potential impacts of a runway extension. That report requires input from Transport Canada.

Give conditional consent: deputy mayor

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, a supporter of Porter’s plans, said the city could reach a conditional agreement without having to delay the matter. He wants a vote to be held next month.

Kelly suggested the city could give its consent with conditions that the noise limits and other requirements are met or else the proposal is scrapped.

Kelly doesn’t think council would be rushing things if it ignores the recommendation from civil servants. He believes council would lose an opportunity for economic growth if it rejects the proposal.

“Take a look at other cities. Not many of those cities take their time making decisions … this is our competition, so we’ve got to remain competitive,” Kelly told reporters at city hall. “If you’ve got an asset, grow it. If you don’t, you’ve missed an opportunity.”

Council has enough information, airline says

Porter president and CEO Robert Deluce said council has enough information in front of it to make a decision right now, even if it is a decision that comes with conditions or allows time for other issues to be finalized.

“There’s no real reason not to move forward at this point. This can be done,” Deluce told CP24. “There is ample opportunity to proceed and at the same time ensure that the city is protected in a reasonable manner.”

Deluce downplayed concerns about noise and expressed confidence that it will not be a nuisance. He said test flights confirmed the CS100 will meet Transport Canada's noise constraints.

However, the staff report says the preliminary test flight data does not confirm whether the CS100 will comply with the terms of the Tripartite Agreement, which governs the airport.

One of the proposal's loudest opponents, Coun. Adam Vaughan, said the city would be forced to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades, including the rebuilding of Queens Quay and Bathurst Street and the tunnelling of the Bathurst streetcar, if council grants the airline's wishes.

“It’s so complex and so expensive and so disruptive to the waterfront that everybody is looking at this and saying we don’t have enough information,” Vaughan told CP24 reporter Katie Simpson.

Vaughan said it's not known if Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport could handle an increase in passengers or if the roads leading to the airport could handle an increase in traffic.

Vaughan thinks congestion would get "magnificently worse."

Passenger traffic has increased from 26,000 in 2006 to 2.3 million in 2012. Billy Bishop airport is now the ninth busiest airport in Canada.

Vaughan said the changes would require a “massive” fuel tank at the airport and he wants assurances that businesses that rent space will not be forced to leave.

Deluce suggested some council members want the proposal to fail. He said some councillors didn’t want to study the plan in the first place.

“No amount of additional time or info will ever satisfy them,” he said.

The executive committee is considering the staff report at its Dec. 5 meeting.

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