February 11th, 2004

Mr. Steve Shaw Vice President Greater Airport Authority Lester B. Pearson International Airport P.O. Box 6031 Toronto, AMF, L5P 1B2

Dear Steve,

On behalf of the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade, I would like to nominate Darlene Bono of DMR Bookkeeping to the Pickering Advisory Council sub-committee for Communications. Darlene would be taking over the current volunteer position for Debbie Dixon.

Darlene operates a successful business in Durham Region and is involved in a variety of community initiatives. She is also a member of the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade Government Relations committee. I know she will be a positive contributor to the committee.

I would also like to take this opportunity to confirm that Pat O’Brien will continue to represent the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade on the GTAA Pickering Advisory Council for 2004/2005.

Sincerely,

Joan Wideman President, Ajax Pickering Board of Trade 144 Old Kingston Rd, 2nd Fl, Suite 10 Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9 P: 905-686-0883 F: 905-686-1057 www.apboardoftrade.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Thank you to our 2009 Annual Title Sponsors: The Honourable John Baird Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Tower C ‐ 330 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N5

Dear Minister Baird:

Discussions surrounding the use of federally owned land in the northern reaches of Pickering, Ontario have been plagued by unacceptable delays since 1972, when the federal government first expropriated 18,600 acres to establish the site for a potential airport.

It would be difficult to downplay the extent of these delays. British Columbia stipulated the need for a trans‐continental railway when it joined the Dominion in 1871, and we know that Hon. Donald Alexander Smith drove the last spike on Nov. 7, 1885. In contrast, our community has seen 12 federal elections come and go, and still there is no decision on the use of the area that has become known as the “airport lands”.

This is why the Ajax‐Pickering Board of Trade – the voice of business in our community – is turning to the Government of Canada to ensure that the related research remains on schedule.

The latest stage in establishing an economically vibrant future for the site is a Needs Assessment Study, conducted by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and vetted by , which promises to address vital issues such as the forecasted demand for air travel and the capacity of existing airports.

We are calling on the Government of Canada to remain committed to the 2009 deadline that was established for the release of the Needs Assessment Study, which was launched in May 2007. While we understand that this issue deserves thorough study and debate, we would find it difficult to believe that the related analysis could not be completed on time, particularly given the exhaustive research that has already been completed.

Each and every delay in a decision concerning the use of this land represents a significant economic loss to our community, whether an airport is built or not.

Consider the economic impact that has been established by other regional airports in this region. The Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport supports 29 private businesses and four government and service agencies, providing 550 direct and indirect jobs, representing a $96 million contribution to the Gross Domestic Product. Looking to the east, another study has indicated that the Municipal Airport contributes $60 million in added‐value Gross Domestic Product. In the process, the Pickering land has been blocked from any other use that could benefit the economic wellbeing of our community.

A decision on the use of this land would provide an undeniable source of economic stimulus.

As business leaders, we rely on long‐term planning to establish the transportation infrastructure that will allow us to move goods and employees as effectively as possible. But we may also be running out of time to address congestion in the . If an airport is not built in Pickering, we need to know about the alternatives that will address the transportation‐related challenges that we face.

The future of the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport has been cast into doubt, and the Oshawa Municipal Airport is restricted in geographic terms. Pearson International Airport’s Master Plan suggests that Canada’s largest airport will reach its capacity of 54 million passengers between 2017 and 2023 – and a 1991 study indicated that it would take a full decade to develop an airport in Pickering.

If Pearson International Airport is allowed to reach its capacity before a solution is found, we know that travelers will be plagued by delays and traffic chaos in the transportation corridors that lead through the Greater Toronto Area. That would have an economic impact on every business in Durham Region and beyond.

For the sake of our economy, we ask you to demonstrate the leadership that will determine an ultimate use for the land that the federal government expropriated so many decades ago.

We thank you for your consideration, and look forward to participating in discussions about the future of this project.

Sincerely,

John G. Smith President (WordSmith Media)

CC: The Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister , MP Ajax‐Pickering3 Dan McTeague, MP Pickering‐Scarborough East Wayne Arthurs, MPP Pickering – Scarborough East Joe Dickson, MPP Ajax‐Pickering Regional Chair, Roger Anderson Mayor Steve Parish, Town of Ajax Mayor Dave Ryan, City of Pickering

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade, 144 Old Kingston Rd, 2nd Fl, Suite 10, Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9 P: 905-686-0883 F: 905-686-1057 144 Old Kingston Rd, 2nd Fl, Suite 10 Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9 P: 905-686-0883 F: 905-686-1057 www.apboardoftrade.com

March 4, 2010

Thank you to our 2010 Annual Title Sponsors: The Honourable John Baird Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Tower C - 330 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N5

Dear Minister Baird:

On November 17, 2009, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade issued a letter to the attention of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, calling on the Government of Canada to remain committed to the 2009 deadline that was established for the release of the Needs Assessment Study, which was launched in May 2007 regarding the future of the Pickering ‘airport lands’.

The Office of the Prime Minister replied on January 11, 2010, to acknowledge receipt of the correspondence. However, as of the date of this letter, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has not received a response regarding this issue or confirmation from the Transport Minister that this correspondence was received.

We respectfully request acknowledgment from the Transport Minister of the receipt of the letter and a response to the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade’s call for the Government of Canada to release the Needs Assessment Study.

The original letter, dated November 17, 2009, is included with this correspondence for your reference.

Sincerely,

Jason Cameron John G. Smith Joan Wideman 2010 President 2010 Chair Chair, Government Relations Ajax-Pickering Ajax-Pickering Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Board of Trade Board of Trade

CC: The Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister

144 Old Kingston Rd, 2nd Fl, Suite 10 Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9 P: 905-686-0883 F: 905-686-1057 www.apboardoftrade.com

Nov. 12, 2010 Thank you to our 2010 Annual Title Sponsors: The Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Tower C - 330 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N5

Dear Minister Strahl:

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade would like to take this opportunity to express its support and congratulations to you as you take on the important and significant role of Canada’s Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

We’re certain you are very busy familiarizing yourself with the many issues in your ministry, and the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade would like to bring to your attention our continuing effort to press your government for the release of the Needs Assessment Study, conducted by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in 2009, evaluating the airport needs for Ontario, specifically related to the Pickering Airport Lands.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) announced on May 19, 2010, in a meeting with Durham Region's planning committee, that the study is in the hands of Transport Canada and officials said that any decision on the future of the lands will be your ministry’s to make.

As the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has stated on many occasions, the federally owned land in the northern reaches of Pickering have been plagued by unacceptable delays for four decades and we continue to respectfully call upon the Federal Government to expedite this process. Initially scheduled to be in the hands of the public before the end of 2009, it is now November, 2010 and we still await the release of the study.

Regardless of what is decided and what results and conclusions are revealed by this Needs Assessment Study, the report must be released as soon as possible. Due to the uncertainty of what the future holds for this community, as it relates to our residents, the business community and our future municipal and provincial infrastructure planning, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade – the voice of business in our community – is calling upon the Government of Canada to eliminate any further delays in vetting the study and releasing it to the public.

In Pickering for example, important planning decisions are being made right now for future infrastructure needs. These decisions are made very difficult without a clear understanding of what the future holds for the Pickering Airport Lands.

While we understand that this issue deserves thorough study and debate, we would find it difficult to believe that the related analysis could not be completed by now, particularly given the exhaustive research that has already been completed. Your timely actions will play a large role in establishing an economically vibrant future for developments in our communities, such as the extensive Pickering’s Seaton Lands project the Board of Trade supports. Each and every delay in a decision concerning the use of the federal Pickering airport lands represents a significant economic loss to our community, whether an airport is built or not. A decision on the use of this land would provide an undeniable source of economic stimulus and provide an opportunity for proactive and prudent planning for infrastructure needs in the Seaton Lands.

As business leaders we rely on long-term planning to establish the transportation infrastructure that will allow us to move goods and employees as effectively as possible. But we may also be running out of time to address congestion in the Greater Toronto Area. If an airport is not built in Pickering, we need to know about the alternatives that will address the transportation-related challenges that we face.

Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport will be closed in the near future and the Oshawa Municipal Airport is restricted in its ability to expand due to limited geography. As well, Pearson International Airport’s Master Plan suggests that Canada’s largest airport will reach its capacity of 54 million passengers between 2017 and 2023 – and a 1991 study indicated that it would take a full decade to develop an airport in Pickering.

If Pearson International Airport is allowed to reach its capacity before a solution is found, we know that travellers will be plagued by delays and traffic chaos in the transportation corridors that lead through the Greater Toronto Area. That would have an economic impact on every business in Durham Region and beyond. For the sake of our economy, we ask you to demonstrate the leadership that will determine an ultimate use for the land that the federal government expropriated so many decades ago.

As always, we thank you for your consideration, and remain hopeful of the opportunity to participate in discussions about the future of this project. We would like to cordially invite you or members of your staff to attend a meeting of the Ajax- Pickering Board of Trade’s Government Relations Committee to further discuss these issues.

Sincerely,

Jason Cameron, 2010 President, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade

CC: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Wayne Arthurs, MPP Prime Minister Pickering – Scarborough East The Honourable James M. Flaherty, Joe Dickson, MPP Ajax-Pickering Minister of Finance Jerry Ouellette, MPP Oshawa The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, John O’Toole, MPP Durham Premier of Ontario Christine Elliott, MPP Whitby-Oshawa The Honourable Bob Chiarelli , Leader of the Official Opposition Minister of Infrastructure Roger Anderson, Regional Chair of Durham The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Mayor Steve Parish, Town of Ajax Minister of Transportation Mayor Dave Ryan, City of Pickering Mark Holland, MP Ajax-Pickering Gary Cubitt, CAO, Region of Durham The Honourable Dan McTeague, C. Curtis, Commissioner of Works, MP Pickering-Scarborough East Region of Durham The Honourable Bev Oda, MP Durham Media Colin Carrie, MP Oshawa 3-144 Old Kingston Rd Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9 P: 905-686-0883 F: 905-686-1057 www.apboardoftrade.com

Thank you to our 2011 February 14, 2011 Annual Title Sponsors The Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Tower C - 330 Sparks St. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N5

Dear Minister Strahl:

I am writing to follow up on our correspondence of November 12, 2010. In that letter, my predecessor, Jason Cameron, brought to your attention our sustained effort to urge your government to release the Needs Assessment Study, conducted by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) in 2009, evaluating the airport needs for Ontario, specifically related to the Pickering Airport Lands. Significant background on the file was provided, and for your convenience, I have attached our previous letters on this vital matter.

In the interest of moving this issue forward, I respectfully request that you meet with a small delegation from the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade and me at a date that is mutually agreeable, in order that we may have a meaningful discussion around this issue.

As mentioned in the above-noted letter of November 12, 2010, according to the GTAA, the study is in the hands of your department and future decisions rest with Transport Canada.

Regardless of what decision is taken and what results and conclusions are revealed by this Needs Assessment Study, the report must be released without delay. The residents, businesses and community planners in Ajax and Pickering require certainty around this issue to plan for the future.

For the sake of our local economy, we ask you to show leadership and take the action necessary to determine an ultimate use for this land that the federal government expropriated so many decades ago.

We look forward to meeting with you and at your earliest convenience and await the expeditious release of this study.

Sincerely,

Donna McFarlane, 2011 President, Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade

CC: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Jerry Ouellette, MPP Oshawa The Honourable James M. Flaherty, Minister of Finance John O’Toole, MPP Durham The Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario Christine Elliott, MPP Whitby-Oshawa The Honourable Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Infrastructure Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official Opposition The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Roger Anderson, Regional Chair of Durham Mark Holland, MP Ajax-Pickering Mayor Steve Parish, Town of Ajax The Honourable Dan McTeague, MP Pickering-Scarborough Mayor Dave Ryan, City of Pickering East Gary Cubitt, CAO, Region of Durham The Honourable Bev Oda, MP Durham C. Curtis, Commissioner of Works, Colin Carrie, MP Oshawa Region of Durham Wayne Arthurs, MPP Pickering – Scarborough East Media Joe Dickson, MPP Ajax-Pickering

Transport Transports 1+1 Canada Canada

Access to Information and Privacy Division Your File votre reference Division de l'acces a I'information et de la protection des renseignements personnels Our File Noire reference A-201 0-00532/ Ne Place de Vi lie, Tower C 330 Sparks Street Ottawa, ON K1A ON5

Fax: (613) 991-6594 FEB 1 7 2011

Mr. Nathan MacDonald Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade 3-144 Old Kingston Road Ajax, ON L1T 2Z9

Dear Mr. MacDonald,

This is to acknowledge receipt on February 17, 2011 of your request under the Access to Information Act for:

GTAA Needs Assessment Study on the Pickering Airport Lands Submitted to Transport Canada in March 2009

Should you have any questions, you may contact Nicole Cook at (613) 991-5962 or via e-mail [email protected] letter will also acknowledge receipt of your application fee of $5.00. Please quote the file number listed above in all correspondence relating to this request.

Yours sincerely,

Reginald Laurent ATIP Coordinator

Question 3 – Airport Lands

3a. Proponents of an airport in Pickering predict that it will yield many benefits for business including increased employment, efficient movement of goods and services, economic investment and development.

Don't know 3% Strongly Disagree 3% Disagree 1% Disagree Somewhat 3% Neutral 10% Agree Somewhat 10% Agree 42% Strongly Agree 29%

3b. How important is the fate of the Pickering Airport Lands to your business?

Not At All Important 9%

Not Important 19%

Neutral 30%

Important 27%

Very Important 15%

¾ 71% agree that an airport in Pickering would yield many benefits for business. ¾ There is a high degree of variation on the degree of importance of this issue among respondents. 42% think the issue is important while 30% are neutral. ¾ A micro-survey on this issue could add more detail to the membership’s views on this issue.

2011 Ajax‐Pickering Board of Trade ‐ Government Relations Survey 2013 Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Government Relations Survey – Results and Commentary

Pickering Federal Lands

1a. In June 2013, the Federal Government announced plans for the Pickering Federal lands. It will include land reserved for an airport, economic development and more land dedicated to the Rouge Park. How important is the fate of the Pickering Federal Lands to your business?

30% 26% 28% 25% 21% 20% 13% 15% 10% 10% 5% 0% Very Important Neutral Not Not At All Important Important Important

1b. How important is it to your business that the Board of Trade take a public position on the proposed plans for the Pickering Federal Lands?

40.0% 34.4% 33.3% 30.0% 20.0% 20.0%

10.0% 5.5% 6.6%

0.0% Very Important Neutral Not Not At All Important Important Important

 47% of respondents felt that the fate of the Pickering Federal Lands was very important/important to their business. This compares to 42% in 2011.  23% of respondents felt that the fate of the Pickering Federal Lands was not important/not important at all to their business. This compares to 28% in 2011.  54% of respondents felt it was very important/important that the APBOT takes a public position on the proposed plans for the Pickering Federal lands while only 12% felt it was not important/not important at all to do so.

Recommendation – This is a very important issue for the membership and there is an expectation that the APBOT will take a public position on this issue. A high number (28%) are neutral on the importance of the issue and 33% are neutral as to whether the APBOT should take a public position. Further micro surveys on this issue would be appropriate to assist with positioning on this issue.

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