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News Release

No. ON 03/07
For Release
May 9, 2007

TRANSPORT CANADA AWARDS A CONTRACT TO STUDY A POTENTIAL PICKERING AIRPORT

TORONTO – Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon today announced that a contract was awarded to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to complete the previously announced Needs Assessment Study for a potential Pickering Airport.

The Needs Assessment Study will extend and update previous work on the role and capacity of airports in Southern Ontario in meeting future needs of passengers, businesses and general aviation. The GTAA will conduct the Needs Assessment Study over a six-month period and report back to Transport Canada with their findings.

These findings will become part of Transport Canada's comprehensive due diligence review that will independently check and verify assumptions and conclusions in all related planning studies. Selected interested public and stakeholders with technical expertise will be invited to participate in this review. “These important evaluations will move us forward in making an informed decision about the future of the Pickering Lands Site,” said Minister Cannon.

In the meantime, Transport Canada is funding a number of initiatives on the Green Space portion of the federal lands. “These initiatives will help improve and preserve this important piece of Southern Ontario's ecosystem, which provides a natural buffer mitigating impacts of potential airport operations, demonstrates the Government's efforts regarding environmental sustainability and is consistent with the Government of Ontario's Greenbelt legislation,” remarked Minister Cannon.

A decision on an airport on the Pickering Lands will not be made until at least 2009.

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Contacts:

Catherine Loubier Paula Fairfax
Director of Communications A/Regional Director, Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities 		Transport Canada, Ontario Region
(613) 991-0700 (416) 952-0154

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Date modified:
2009-08-28