Mar 12, 2009
Regional News
March 12, 2009 12:22 PM
BY KEELY GRASSER
What if Buttonville airport was no longer?
What if that large swath of land that's been dedicated to an airport for more than a half-century stood empty?
Questions around the airport, privately owned by the Sifton family, have been swirling since the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) decided to cut a $1.5 million annual funding agreement with the airport.
Losing the airport, though entirely speculative, could mean 300 fewer jobs and $80 million less flowing through the local economy.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti said that is the airport's influence on the area, adding he believes the airport is critically important, not just to Markham and York Region, but the whole of the GTA.
The airport houses several aviation-related businesses and services.
Several private charter companies operate out of Buttonville. Some media outlets use it for traffic reports. The York Regional Police helicopter takes off from the airport. New pilots also can train there.
It's also the home for many of the area's aviation enthusiasts.
Paul Hayes is one of them. He's the past-president of the Buttonville Flying Club, a 200-member strong franchise of the Canadian Owner and Pilots Association (COPA).
"We're sort of waiting on our tetherhooks, waiting to see what's going to happen," he said, adding his group has asked the national COPA office to look into the situation.
What if Buttonville was no longer accessible to them?
"Some people would just stop flying," Mr. Hayes said. "Other people who own airplanes ... where they would go, who knows?"
Member pilots aren't always just flying for fun. Mr. Hayes said some use their aircraft for business travel.
Both charter and private business planes operate out of Buttonville.
Another mainstay of the airport is Seneca College's aviation program. About 80 future pilots begin the four-year degree program each fall.
The college is also concerned, said Dominic Totino, the program's director of academic program and flight training.
He said the airport isn't just essential to local people.
"The whole aviation industry has a shortage of pilots," he said. Seneca is one of three Ontario college training programs and the only in Southern Ontario.
What if Buttonville closed?
"We were always hoping Pickering would be built before Buttonville was shut down," Mr. Totino said.
The president of the college has been writing letters to provincial and federal ministers about the matter, Mr. Totino said.
While some are pointing out the value of businesses housed at Buttonville, what lays beneath it is also immensely valuable.
It sits on 165 acres of land, which Derek Sifton, CEO of Toronto Airways Ltd., which operates Buttonville, has speculated could be worth $165 million.
"It's a huge piece of property directly on the 404 at a major crossroads in Markham," said Dan Horchik, councillor for the ward Buttonville is in.
He said he believes it's zoned for commercial uses.
Mr. Horchik said Buttonville is a good corporate citizen.
He is a member of the Buttonville Airport Community Committee, a group the airport voluntarily set up to try and promote good communications with residents.
While Mr. Horchik said he doesn't get many complaints about the airport from Markhamites, he notes there are more concerns voiced by Richmond Hill residents, who he said hear more airport noise because of flight paths.
Richmond Hill Councillor David Cohen said that in his ward, which borders Hwy. 404 from 16th Avenue to Stouffville Road, Buttonville closing would be bad news for some constituents and good news for others.
"Do they like having airplanes flying over their houses? No," he said.
He said the airport's future is an issue between the GTAA and the Siftons.
"I wish them no ill will. If they decide to do something else (other than run an airport), I'm not going to complain," Mr. Cohen said.
There are Markham residents that also express concern.
Liza Chang, who lives near the airport, said she and a group of several other residents are setting up a group to deal with some of their issues with the airport.
Ms Chang said she's concerned with airport noise - especially late at night, pollution and safety issues, among other things.
She said "it wouldn't bother me" if the airport closed, but noted she acknowledges it supports some important services, like emergency service flights.
Mr. Sifton and other aviation-related groups and industries have been championing a funding solution for the airport.
Ms Chang questions the logic of government money going to a private airport.
"Can't we spend the money on something more meaningful to us?" she asked.
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman brought up Buttonville's woes at Queen's Park last month. That led Ontario Transport Minister James Bradley to promise to bring up the issue with the federal transport minister.
Airports are a federal jurisdiction.
Oak Ridges-Markham MP Paul Calandra said he's heard from constituents both for and against the airport.
He said he's met with Mr. Sifton and that local members of the Conservative caucus have discussed the issue.
"I think it's (Buttonville) wonderful and they've been around so long, they've given a lot to the community," Mr. Calandra said, noting however that Buttonville is a private airport.
He also pointed out that the GTAA is currently facing a decrease in passengers.
"It's a very, very difficult situation," he said.
Buttonville actually sits in Markham-Unionville MP John McCallum's riding.
Mr. McCallum said he understands the airport is of critical importance to Markham, adding if Buttonville wants his help, he's "happy to go to bat for them".
But the Liberal MP noted he only wants to do so is he's helpful, adding intervention from the Opposition can be helpful or not helpful.
Mr. Sifton himself has written a letter to federal Transport Minister John Baird, pointing out the importance of the aviation industry and asking Mr. Baird to consider the industry when making decision regarding economic stimulus measures.
He argues the area would experience a loss if Buttonville ceased to exist.
"With the loss of the GTAA's funding, we frankly and regrettably will have to revisit the use of our lands we own as an airport and look to the alternative options for such a viable and centrally important section of prime real estate," he wrote.
In a Spring 2009 Buttonville newsletter, Mr. Sifton says he's lobbying not just for Buttonville, but for airports across the country.
He indicates he's encouraged a resolution will be found and reassures that Buttonville isn't closing today and that they "still plan on being here tomorrow and beyond providing it makes business sense for us to do so".