DRAFT RESOLUTION OF MARKHAM COUNCIL

TORONTO BUTTONVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

Whereas the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport is located in the Town of Markham, Region of York;

And Whereas the Buttonville Airport supports general aviation, corporate and government jets, and emergency services including air ambulance and police, and is one of the busiest airports in Ontario;

And Whereas the Buttonville Airport plays a key strategic role in the Provincial and Greater Toronto Area aviation transportation network;

And Whereas the Buttonville Airport supports a wide range of business and government activities in Markham, York Region and the GTA, and provides significant direct and indirect employment opportunities and economic development benefits;

And Whereas the Buttonville Airport is privately owned and operated by Toronto Airways Limited, but has historically received financial contributions from government and airport authorities, most recently the Region of York and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA);

And Whereas the funding provided to the Buttonville Airport by the GTAA ceased in April 2009, resulting in the owner / operator of the airport announcing that they may cease operations at the Buttonville location, and that redevelopment options are being considered for the subject lands;

Now Therefore be it Resolved as follows:

That the Town of Markham supports the continued operation of the Buttonville Airport, on the basis that the airport is a major contributor to the local and regional economy and transportation network;

That the GTAA be requested to restore it’s funding to the Buttonville Airport;

That the Region of York be requested to continue it’s funding to the Buttonville Airport;

That the owner / operator of the Buttonville Airport be encouraged to continue the operation of the airport facility until such time as a permanent replacement, regional airport can be established in close proximity to the Town of Markham and the Region of York, preferably on the proposed Pickering Airport lands in Durham Region;

And that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Toronto Airways Limited, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority, the Region of York, the Region of Durham, the Federal Minister of Transportation, the Premier of Ontario, the Provincial Minister of Transportation, and MPs and MPPs in York and Durham Regions.

Q:\Commissioner\Buttonville Airport Sept 2009.doc