Update on the Oshawa Executive Airport – Noise and Air Traffic Concerns

The City understands the valid concerns of residents regarding noise and air traffic at the Oshawa Executive Airport. The City also agrees that a better balance is necessary to respect residents’ quality of life and the economic benefits of the Airport. Unfortunately, the City is faced with three challenges.

First, Transport Canada is the regulator and only the Federal government can regulate airport activity. Municipal by-laws cannot be used to regulate aircraft activity, and neither Members of Council, City staff nor the Airport Manager have the authority to regulate aircraft activity. In 2021, the Federal Minister of Transport was contacted by both the City of Oshawa and the Town of Whitby who advocated that the Federal noise abatement procedures and restrictions for the Oshawa Executive Airport need to be implemented. To date, Transport Canada has not responded to either municipality.

Second, there are two methods available to the City for the establishment of a new noise abatement procedure at the Airport: a voluntary process and a formal process. Both processes are required to be undertaken in the context of Canadian Aviation Regulation 602.105, in compliance with Transport Canada’s Advisory Circular 302-020. To date, the 2016 voluntary process has been used to establish the current noise and traffic management plan at the Airport. However, the voluntary process is not effective and in 2021, the City contacted the Federal Minister of Transport to advance the formal process and establish a new Noise Abatement Procedure and Restrictions under the Transport Canada Circular. To date, the City has not received a response to its request.

Third, the continued operation of the Canadian Flight Academy at the Oshawa Executive Airport is a matter before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The City has been waiting for a decision from Justice Dawe since fall 2022. Justice Dawe’s decision was released on March 23, 2023 and can be found online. Given that trial sittings are scheduled only twice a year (May and November), and there are procedural requirements that must be completed before this matter can proceed to trial, the City anticipates that this matter will be set for trial in November 2023.

The City is committed to ensuring open dialogue and considering the needs of both airport users and community members as we work to fulfill our agreement with the Federal Government to operate the Oshawa Executive Airport until 2047. While the Oshawa Executive Airport is a significant asset for economic growth in the City and for Durham Region, the City’s long-term vision is balancing the quality of life of our residents with the economic benefits of the airport.

Please contact the Federal Minister of Transport if you require further information or clarification on regulating the airport traffic activity and/or advancing new Noise Abatement Procedure and Restrictions at the Oshawa Executive Airport. The Federal Minister of Transport, The Honourable Omar Alghabra can be reached via email at [email protected] and [email protected] or via telephone at 613-992-1301 or 905-848-8595.

To learn more about the City’s voluntary procedures established in cooperation with our airport users to minimize noise and traffic impacts, visit the Oshawa Executive Airport’s Noise Management webpage.