Ottawa, ON
June 17, 2015
Check against Delivery
Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here today with my colleague, John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West.
John has worked tirelessly on the issue of airport noise and how the impact on residents can be minimized.
That’s why today we are so pleased to recognize and support two exciting new initiatives to help mitigate aircraft noise concerns.
As Minister of Transport, and before that in my private-sector career, I have always advocated the consultation process as the main means to a positive end, particularly where it affects the lives of everyday Canadians.
Every day, Canadians with legitimate complaints must be heard, and that includes those impacted by aircraft noise over their back yards.
Literally over their back yards, not figuratively.
With that a given, I asked for an industry-led approach to resolving this issue and I am pleased to say today that NAV Canada, the National Airlines Council of Canada and the Canadian Airports Council have developed the Airspace Change Communications and Consultation Protocol.
It is a protocol that formalizes public consultations for flight path changes at major airports right across this country.
And it is now ready to be implemented.
Again, thanks to John’s determination, we are also pleased to announce that NAV Canada and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority have developed the region-specific Toronto Pearson Noise Mitigation Engagement Strategy, and have put forward several measures to deal with airport noise concerns over Toronto area, particularly in North Toronto and the Western GTA and GTHA.
Beginning this month, NAV Canada and the GTAA will launch a consultation process on these measures and conduct regional engagement meetings with the community and its leaders, as well local, provincial and federal elected officials.
Feedback from these meetings will be instrumental in developing a solution to concentrated flight paths and increased aircraft noise.
The concerns and complaints of various resident groups in Canada, and the GTHA in particular, over aircraft noise have not gone unheard by me or my department.
In fact, the first application of this protocol begins this evening at Pearson International with an open meeting of the Community Environment and Noise Advisory Committee.
And, as Minister of Transport, I expect the airline industry to follow the spirit and the intent of these consultations by undertaking broad community engagement, and by operating as transparently as possible in order to build community trust around airspace changes.
While there is no question that increased air traffic volumes and the accompanying aircraft noise are part and parcel of a strong economy, there is also no question that there is a growing frustration among those who live under those flight paths that they have little or no place at the table.
Today, I am here with John to tell you that those frustrations will end because there will be a place at the table — a big place.
With the initiation of the Airspace Change Communications and Consultation Protocol, impacted communities will have their say, and they will have it well in advance of any proposed airspace changes.
I encourage all residents with interest in this matter to get involved in these public meetings, and put their concerns directly to industry representatives.
As I said at the outset, the consultation process is not only a means to an end, but the best means to positive end.
It is encouraging to see an industry-led approach that improves stakeholder and public engagement on this issue that touches so many Canadians.
Thank you again John for your great work on this issue. I look forward to working with you and our many partners as we move forward with these consultations and public engagement.
