PICKERING -- Durham's member on the Greater Toronto Airports Authority's board of directors should be a Pickering resident, council has agreed.

At the May 17 meeting, Pickering council sent a request to Durham Region council to amend the current process for the appointment to the GTAA board in order to ensure that person is specifically from Pickering.

Durham council appoints a new member of the Durham public to the board at the beginning of every council term.

The federal government owns the 18,000-plus acres of land in north Pickering that have been designated for a possible airport.  Therefore, the issue is of greater importance to Pickering and its residents than the rest of Durham, the motion said.

The motion pointed out the minutes of all GTAA board meetings are not made public, which leads to lack of accountability and accessibility of information for Pickering and Durham residents.

“I think you have to show some transparency to the people you represent,” said Ward 3 Regional Councillor Rick Johnson.

He also pointed out Pickering is turning 200 years old in 2011 and the Region of Durham was only formed in 1974.  But whether the Region agrees to Pickering's request is “another battle for another day,” he said.

Coun.  Johnson introduced the motion along with Ward 1 City Councillor Jennifer O'Connell.

Ward 3 City Councillor David Pickles said the City should ideally have some input on an appointment.  But he was also skeptical of the Region's support.

“I don't think it's going to happen anyway but I'll support it and hopefully we'll have some luck at the Region,” he said.

PICKERING -- Council has changed its mind regarding an election ballot referendum on the proposed Pickering airport, much to the delight of residents.

In the early 1970s the federal government expropriated north Pickering land for an airport, but to this day, a final decision hasn't been made.  Pickering council has stood opposed to the possibility over the years.

In October, council voted to begin the process of putting the following question on the 2010 municipal election ballot: “Do you support the City of Pickering's position to oppose construction and operation of an airport in the City of Pickering? Yes or No?”

In February, council approved the question, and an appeal period was set until March 23.

Members of Land Over Landings, an anti-airport group in favour of farming the lands, decided to appeal council's decision.

Mary Delaney of LOL felt the question was confusing, saying it could yield inaccurate results.

“It ain't broke, so please don't try to fix it,” she told council Monday.  “This is one can of worms you don't want to open.”

City clerk Debbie Shields explained the question had to be worded in such a way since the federal lands are not under municipal jurisdiction.  The question could not ask if residents are for or against an airport, but it could ask if they support council's opposition.

Ms.  Delaney explained the matter is long and complicated.

“We elect our politicians to work with experts, be they existing staff or consultants, to make the best decisions for us,” she said.  “Ballots don't ask the masses of the public to give their ”yay“ or ”nay“ on footbridges over the 401, on odour facility plants, or on the budget.  Why would we throw this question, which is arguably even more complicated, out to the public?”

Pickering resident and LOL member Peter Rodrigues said since there is no sensible business case, and local opposition to an airport has been obvious, the question should be withdrawn.

“Personally, I think it's quite pointless to raise a question as to which we clearly know the answer,” he said.

Ward 3 Regional Councillor Rick Johnson said since the question is confusing, the answer will only be convoluted, and no real legitimate results will come of it anyway.

“You're going to get a convoluted-type response,” he said.  “It's not going to be easy to weigh that, and where do you go from there?”

Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley brought forward a motion to repeal the ballot question “because the public does not feel the questions is clear.”

Council approved the repeal, and the clerk will notify the chief electoral officer for Ontario.

Sabrina Byrnes / Metroland PICKERING -- Laura Drake from the Pickering Museum Village chatted with David Boccia at the open house hosted by Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley at the Petticoat Creek Community Centre on Oct. 17.  Local organizations set up booths to inform the public about issues related to climate change, urban growth and food security. October 17, 2009

PICKERING -- Pickering residents may be voting on more than who will be running their city next November.

At the latest council meeting, Ward 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean introduced a motion that the question of whether residents support a possible airport in north Pickering be added to the municipal election ballot in 2010.  He felt public opinion is an important factor to be considered regarding plans for the land, expropriated by the federal government in 1972 and now sitting mainly vacant.

The ballot would include the question: ‘Do you support the City of Pickering's position to oppose construction and operation of an airport in the City of Pickering? Yes or No’

“This I think is an important question to put on the ballot,” Coun. McLean said, adding council is strongly opposed to an airport.

He said many people new to Pickering don't even know about the federal government's plans.  Plus, he feels the referendum would encourage people to get out and vote.

Ward 3 Regional Councillor Rick Johnson felt it would convolute the election process and did not support the motion.  Plus, he's expecting an answer from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority by the end of 2009 on whether the airport will go ahead.

“The people in Ward 3 know our position,” he said, referring to council's opposition.

Ward 1 City Councillor Jennifer O'Connell said it would send a message to the Region of Durham, which currently has a Pickering airport mapped out in its official plan.  Also, not everyone gets involved in political matters, she said, and this is a good time to let those residents express their feelings on the topic.

Ward 3 City Councillor David Pickles didn't support the motion, since after putting forward many motions in opposition to an airport, he feels it's obvious most Pickering residents don't support one either.

But Ward 2 City Councillor Doug Dickerson felt the question is necessary.

“At some point you have to ask people the question,” he said.  “It's been floating around for 37 years.”

Five of the seven councillors supported the motion.

This is only the first step in a long process for the possible referendum, which will include giving notice to the public and holding a public meeting, said City Clerk Debi Wilcox.

“This is basically step one,” she said.

View Resolution #207/05 referred to in the letter above.

In April 2001, the federal Transport Minister asked the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to prepare a master plan for a future regional reliever airport on the Pickering lands.

In 2002, a financial analysis prepared by the GTAA concluded that a regional reliever airport was feasible beginning with general aviation service in 2012 and commercial operations beginning between 2015 and 2019.  The report made a number of assumptions and projections about the closure of airports at Buttonville and Oshawa and when Pearson airport would reach its assumed 50 million passenger capacity threshold.

The GTAA has also completed a draft plan for the airport and commencing in 2005 will be going through the required federal environment assessment (EA).  It is anticipated that the EA will take two years to complete, and that community input will be sought at a number of stages during the process.  Ultimately, in 2007 or later, the Government of Canada will decide on whether an airport is built in Pickering.

In discussions with former Federal Transport Minister David Collenette and his staff, I conveyed to him that I and the majority of Pickering residents that I have spoken with oppose the establishment of an airport in Pickering.

As well, I received Pickering Council's support for my resolution to have several community associations' representatives sit on the GTAA's Pickering Advisory Committee (PAC).  Although the GTAA only accepted one of those representatives to sit on PAC, the GTAA have also established a Community Communications Working Group on which those community representatives and I sit.  I have formally requested that the City undertake an independent and thorough review of the GTAA's findings and report back to Pickering Council and residents.  I will continue to have a key role in protecting Pickering residents' and Pickering's interests in these processes.

In 1972, the federal government acquired 18,600 acres of land north of Highway 7, mostly in Pickering.  These lands were acquired to locate a new international airport, which did not proceed.  Much of these lands are presently leased to tenants and are being farmed.

Councillor Pickles in front of the Tullis Cottage

I was pleased with Transport Canada's Green Space announcement in 2001 to protect the Oak Ridges Moraine portion of the federal lands in Pickering.  Transport Canada is developing a Master Plan for this portion of the federal lands, and has appointed a Green Space Stewardship Advisory Committee to assist them in this work.

Councillor Pickles in front of the Brougham Community Hall

I will continue to support protection of this important environmental area and other adjacent areas while also emphasizing that current residents should continue to be able to live there and use the land, as appropriate.

Federal Transport Minister David Collenette, Councillor David Pickles, MP Dan McTeague at the Green Space announcement.

In October 2004, the Pickering Airport Site Zoning Regulations (PASZR) were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.  Currently, Public Works & Government Services Canada is updating the mapping and the schedule of lands, which when complete will be incorporated into the printed PASZR book.  The PASZR were deposited in the local Land Registry Offices in 2005.

The PASZR limits the height of buildings and protect against bird hazards and electronic interference around the federal lands.  In protecting against bird hazards, these regulations will prohibit various land uses from locating near the federal lands, including landfills.

Existing uses, however, will continue to be permitted.