October 25, 2006

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
470 Avenue Buckingham
Gatineau, QC J8L 2G9

Dear Minister Cannon:

As you know, I have strongly and consistently said that I, and the majority of residents I represent, do not support the establishment of an airport in North Pickering.

I worked at Council, with community groups, and with federal representatives to represent the community's views.

The community and I have a longstanding request for a peer review of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority's business case and Master Plan for an airport proposal.

The previous government made a commitment to a due diligence review and I am pleased that your government appears to be honouring this commitment.  However, this process must be open, transparent, include the appropriate Terms of Reference and include input from the public.

On November 21, 2005, I moved a resolution, Resolution #207/05, that passed unanimously at Council.  I have attached a copy of the full motion for your information.  In summary, the resolution supported a due diligence review with ample opportunity for Pickering Council and interested members of the community to participate in the process.  It also requested that the review include:

• a 10-year time horizon;
• a comprehensive airport supply and demand analysis of airport traffic growth including the potential opportunity and role of all existing southern Ontario airports, within 200 kilometres of Greater Toronto service area;
• a review of airport governance in southern Ontario;
• a comprehensive business case analysis of a potential airport in Pickering to determine if any airport proposal could be profitable on a stand alone basis;
• an independent review of the GTAA's Airport Master Plan and supporting documentation including updated FAA information, and
• funding to the City of Pickering with respect to costs.

On June 19, 2006, subsequent to your government being formed, I again moved a motion to confirm this position of Council and that motion also carried.

In light of recent communications I have seen from your office and Transport Canada, I am very concerned that the due diligence review process being contemplated by the federal government does not appear to be sufficient or adequate to the residents and their representative Council.

I continue to fight for an open and public process, oppose an airport, and for fair treatment of residents on the federal lands.  I implore you to reconsider the due diligence review process and respect the fair and reasonable requests of the constituents of Pickering.

As well, the Pickering lands have a long and proud tradition of settlement and farming.  I ask for your attention in ensuring the fair treatment of residents on the federal lands and an end to unnecessary evictions and demolitions to buildings that are decimating this community.

Yours truly,

David Pickles
City Councillor, Ward 3

Attachment

1. That Report CAO 13-05 concerning the Federal Government's due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering be received.
   
2. That the Federal Government be advised that Pickering Council supports the completion of a due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's (GTAA's) Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering, by the Federal Minister of Transport.
   
3. That the Federal Minister of Transport be requested to ensure that the due diligence review provides ample opportunity for Pickering Council and interested members of the community to participate in the process.
   
4. That the Federal Minister of Transport be requested to ensure the due diligence review includes (but is not necessarily limited to) the following considerations:
   
5. 1. A 10-year time horizon.  A forecast horizon of 10 years increases the reliability and credibility of the forecast to the community.   A 10 year horizon aligns the need for a viable and responsible airport infrastructure system with actual need.
      
   2. A comprehensive airport supply and demand analysis of airport traffic growth including the potential opportunity and role of all existing southern Ontario airports in accommodating projected airport traffic growth.  This study should incorportate the design and expansion capacity of all existing facilities within 200 kilometers of Greater Toronto service area into the capacity and growth equation.
      
   3. A review of airport governance in southern Ontario.  Achieving system wide operating efficiencies in the governance model should be the goal of a system that is beneficial and relevant to taxpayers.
      
   4. A comprehensive business case analysis of a potential airport in Pickering.  The City of Pickering has consistently required that any airport proposal be profitable on a stand along basis as a requirement of any airport facility receiving endorsement.  A business case analysis should analyze all aspects including ground rents for Federal lands at market rates as well as construction costs including permit fees in the profitability analyzes of any proposal.
      
   5. An independent review of the GTAA's Airport Master Plan and supporting documentation including updated FAA information based on the business case considerations listed above.  Airport Improvement Fees at locations other than Pickering should not form any part of a proposal to build, finance, or operate a Pickering facility.
      
6. That Transport Canada be requested to provide head count funding to the City of Pickering with respect to untoward staffing costs.
   
7. That a copy of this Report and resolutions be forwarded to the Local Management Office of Transport Canada, Federal Minister of Transport, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Region of Durham, Members of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering and Pickering-Scarborough East, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge.

WHEREAS Council of the Corporation of the City of Pickering passed Resolution #207/05 (attached) on November 21, 2005, with respect to supporting the due diligence review of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's Master Plan for the Federal Lands in Pickering;

WHEREAS in the Resolution Council requested that the Federal Minister of Transport be requested to ensure that the due diligence review provides ample opportunity for Pickering Council and interested members of the community to participate in the process;

WHEREAS in the Resolution Council requested the Federal Minister of Transport ensure the due diligence review includes (but is not necessarily limited to) a number of specific considerations listed in the Resolution;

WHEREAS the City of Pickering understands that the Federal Minister of Transport has indicated that the due diligence review will not provide an opportunity for Pickering Council or members of the community to comment on the drafting of the Terms of Reference or participate in the due diligence review process;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Pickering urge the Federal Minister of Transport to provide an opportunity for Pickering Council and members of the community to comment on the drafting of the Terms of Reference or the participate in the due diligence review process.

THAT the Council of the City of Pickering urge the Federal Minister of Transport to ensure the due diligence review includes (but is not necessarily limited to) the considerations listed in the Resolution.

THAT Transport Canada be requested to provide head count funding to the City of Pickering with respect to untoward staffing costs.

THAT a copy of this Report and resolutions be forwarded to the Local Management Office of Transport Canada, Federal Minister of Transport, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Region of Durham, Members of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering and Pickering-Scarborough East, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge.

WHEREAS the Tullis Cottage represents an important piece of Pickering heritage and is under threat of demolition by the federal government; and

WHEREAS the Barclay family, who have lived at the Tullis property for more than one hundred and fifty years, is facing impending eviction and this places the Tullis Cottage in immediate jeopardy; and

WHEREAS there are other key heritage homes and sites located on the Pickering airport lands that are also at risk of demolition, and which represent important aspects of Pickering's history; and
WHEREAS the federal government has responsibility as a landowner to help preserve and project local heritage on it's properties; and

WHEREAS Mark Holland, Member of Parliament for the affected area, has called for the fereral government to meet its responsibiliteis and protect homes and sites of significant heritage value;

NOW THEREFORE, the Corporation of the City of Pickering hereby requests the Minister of Transport to withdraw its action to evict the Barclay family from the Tullis Cottage in recognition of its importance of preserving Pickering's history; and

THAT the Minister of Transport commit immediately to protect and preserve the Tullis Cottage, the Brougham Hall, Temperance Hall, the Altona Inn and the Brougham Schoolhouse as the most important heritage sites on the Pickering Airport Lands; and

THAT the Minister of Transport, in conjunction with the local heritage working group established by Public Wroks and Government Services Canada, develop a plan to preserve and protect other areas of key importance to Pickering's heritage by no later than March of 2006 that would be acted upon immediately upon its release; and

THAT this motion be circulated to Mark Holland, M.P. Ajax-Pickering, The Honourable Dan McTeague, M.P. Pickering-Scarborough East, The Honourable Jean Lapierre, Minister of Transport, the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works, and Government Services Canada.