On March 11, 2026, in response to a Freedom of Information request, Toronto Port Authority released AECOM's 2017 Environmental Assessment of Porter Airlines 2013 - 2015 jet proposal, which it secretly completed after the proposal was rejected by the Federal Government in 2015. Here are links to main body of the EA (without the appendices), posted on-line for the first time so far as we know:
Here's the complete EA.
See the Table of differences between the non-jet "baseline" scenario (with RESA) and the possible future scenario where the airport is expanded for jets, Executive Summary, pp.ii to iii.
The EA sets out that expanding the island airport for jets would have adverse impacts on Public Health, Marine Navigation, Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (defined safety zones in the sky where obstacles are forbidden) and on the socio-economic environment.
There will be 20 foot high jet blast “deflectors” (fibreglass walls supported by steel girders) around the ends of the runway, and extending along the side, see page 52, diagrams at pages 41, 50, 51. Also “Sound barriers” and potential for increased odours, page 55.
Both with and without jets, noise levels at the airport cause “environmental insomnia or sleep disturbance” and “hypertension and ischemic health disease”. Engine emmissions cause increased risks of respiratory illness, cardiopulmonary and lung cancer, lesions in upper airways, nasal lesions, increased risk of developing respiratory tract tumours. See page 62.
Jet blast will cause wind problems for small boats putting them at risk of overturning (even with jet blast deflectors), pages 63, 64.
Problems with Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (empty safety areas in the sky which lessen the risk of a plane hitting buildings). There was non-compliance even in 2017 with Airport Zoning Regulations, that is, actual or proposed buildings at Villiers island, East Bayfront, Lower Yonge, Bathurst Quay, Fort York Neighbourhood exceeded allowable maximum building height, page 73.
Many socio-economic effects for the waterfront of expanding BBTCA to accommodate jets are listed at pages 80 to 81, including: increased congestion, increased air traffic will affect residents use and enjoyment of property, extended runway will cause visual disturbance and encroach on the area available for water-based recreation, increasing congestion for boaters, loss in local business activity due to congestion and parking problems.
