Discours
Cercle national des journalistes, le 14 avril 1998
Introduction
Perhaps, these days, it is the worst kept secret that there is
a lot going on at the airport -- and there is even more planned.
Like the region it serves, the Ottawa Airport is a fledgling enterprise
that (pardon the pun) is taking off. This morning I wish to relate
where we've been and where we're going.
J'aimerais présenter le plan établi pour le développement
de l'aéroport. Je discuterai de la contribution de l'aéroport
international d'Ottawa dans notre région et de la façon
dont il répond aux besoins toujours changeants de la région.
Mes commentaires seront brefs et je répondrai à
toutes vos questions par la suite.
1997 marked the first year Ottawa International Airport was managed
and operated by a local Airport Authority. Today, Ottawa International
is a community-based, not-for profit (and, I hasten to add, not-for-loss)
facility, with surplus dollars reinvested in the facility. We
are a business.
It is tied directly to the community through its Board of Directors,
who are this region's business and community leaders. The Airport
Authority has 15 directors selected from the region's economic
bodies -- they are local business owners with a keen interest
in the well-being of the region.
The Airport Authority Chair is stepping down next month, and David
Gavsie will be moving to Toronto. His contributions over the last
five years are memorable. The airport and our community will miss
his tireless energy and valuable insight.
Significant Economic Factor
The airport is a significant economic factor within the region.
It is a net generator of wealth.
In 1997, there were 161,000 aircraft movements through the airport
and over 3 million passengers served. The airport employs 4,600
people directly and indirectly. It has a wage bill of $85 million
and an indirect wage bill of $56 million. Within the region, the
airport generates $240 million of economic activity.
Although those numbers are impressive, the most significant economic
factor I can relate to you is the fact that the airport is a taxpayer.
Up to 1997, the airport was a drain on the taxpayers of Canada,
losing several millions of dollars a year. Now that its operations
are managed by the Airport Authority, the airport does not take
a dime from the taxpayers -- on the contrary, it contributes more
than $7 million of taxes to various levels of government.
Qu'est-ce qui a entraîné ce changement positif? En
un mot, la privatisation. La cession de l'aéroport en février
1997 est d'une importance capitale pour la région puisqu'elle
permet à la communauté d'exploiter l'aéroport
comme bon lui semble et de de profiter des nombreuses possibilités
qui en découlent.
Avant la cession, Transports Canada assurait l'exploitation de
cette installation sans se soucier de la rentabilité de
son investissement. Aujourd’hui, l’Aéroport international
d'Ottawa est une entreprise et les opérations qui auparavant
reflétaient les processus gouvernementaux sont désormais
axés sur les clients et l'intérêt de la région.
A year of "catch up"
The airport is a changed facility. And, it is a changing facility.
The region's travelling public and businesses can expect a more
convenient, customer-oriented approach to services at Ottawa International.
I would like to take a moment and a glimpse of where we have come
from. I look back at 1997 as a year of "catch-up". The
first goal of the Airport Authority was reached within four months
of being handed the keys -- and, of course, I am speaking of the
delivery of the US Customs and Immigration preclearance facility.
On February 4, when we were handed the keys by the Federal Government,
the Airport Authority -- that day -- made the commitment to deliver
US preclearance in July. And, we did exactly that -- on time and
on budget.
On July 7, the preclearance facility opened and changed, for the
better, the nature of travel to the United States for our local
pleasure and business travellers. We can now travel anywhere south
of the border, quicker and more conveniently after being pre-cleared
through US Customs here at Ottawa International.
Connection times at stopover airports have been reduced and the
traveller has more final destination alternatives and greater
flexibility in planning trips. The result of preclearance has
been a 50% increase in transborder flights.
Today, the airport offers 39 daily non-stop flights to major US
cities -- this number will increase to 41 on May 1 when Continental
Airlines begin its new service. Ottawa International offers 82
daily non-stop flights to major Canadian cities. We also have
service to Europe, and as of June 1, we will have 10 flights per
week to Europe. Ottawa International is the region's link to the
world's markets -- we are your "Capital Connection."
Much has occurred over 1997 and we will have an opportunity to
review the first year's initiatives at the Airport Authority's
annual general meeting, being held three weeks from today.
The annual general meeting is being held at the Palais de Congrès
de Hull on May 5 at 10 am. On behalf of the Board of Directors,
I wish to extend an invitation to our region's public to hear
about the first year's operations -- a year in which we, as an
airport and a community, can be justifiably proud.
Looking Ahead
Il est excitant de faire partie d'une région aussi dynamique,
une région qui prend de l'ampleur et qui s'épanouit
sur les plans à la fois économique et social. La
communauté dans laquelle nous vivons est formidable!
À l'aéroport, nous voulons faire notre part afin
de contribuer à la croissance de la région. Nous
avons amorcé, cette année, un processus de plan
directeur visant à orienter le développement des
installations et des services de l'aéroport jusqu'à
l'an 2020.
Contrary to what you may have read or heard, this Master Plan
consultative process is far from over. The consultants are still
gathering information and the Board of Directors has not seen
a final report. Any decisions on moving ahead will require Board
consideration and Board approval first.
We have been consulting -- and are continuing to consult -- with
the local business organizations, with community groups and with
the public to determine our options for growth and develop a plan
that will meet the needs of the region into the next century.
Tomorrow evening, we are hosting the last in a series of public
open houses. These have been important meetings for they have
provided the public with the options that are before us -- to
1) expand the air terminal building, and 2) develop the airport
lands.
We have been receiving the public's feedback. The comments and
suggestions are being reviewed by our master plan consulting firms
of MAXGROUP and Landrum & Brown for inclusion in their final
report to be presented and considered by the Airport Authority's
Board of Directors later this spring.
On reconnaît le besoin de développer les installations
actuelles de l'Aéroport international d'Ottawa et d'améliorer
notre aérogare qui prend de l’âge. En effet,
il nous faut prendre des décisions concernant cette aérogare,
qui, aux heures de pointe, réussit à peine à
répondre aux besoins de nos clients.
Today, the airport facilities are bursting at the seams. We serve
approximately 3 million travellers per year. In 2020, the conservative
projections for Ottawa International's passenger volumes will
be close to 5.8 million -- almost double the number of travellers
through our airport facilities! This growth demands that we do
some planning today!
Through the master plan process, our bottom-line objective is
to be responsive to the community's. An airport should reflect
its host community. And, in the case of the Ottawa Airport, it
is changing and developing to meet the needs of our changing and
developing region.
When the master plan is announced, it will include an analysis
of the airport facilities and services, reports on the public
consultations, economic development potential, environmental and
land use planing studies, air services studies, a review of business
and tourism travel demands, and a long term development plan.
It will be a comprehensive plan that will be exhaustive in its
review of airport's potential to develop and meet the needs of
the region's travelling public. Specifically, it will recommend
one option, from a series of options, for expansion of the existing
main terminal and development of runways and airside facilities.
I invite the public to the last of the master plan open houses.
It is tomorrow at the RA Centre between 4 and 6:30 pm. This open
house is followed by a public meeting that is scheduled for 7
to 9 pm.
La séance portes ouvertes, qui se tiendra dans l'aprés-midi,
suivie de l'assemblée publique de demain, de 19 h à
21 h, sont d'importantes occasions de présenter aux membres
du public les options pour l'expansion de l'aéroport. Comme
prévu, il s'agit de la dernière d'une série
de séances d'information à l'intention du public.
Les commentaires du public seront inclus dans le rapport final
des experts-conseils qui sera soumis au Conseil d'administration
plus tard ce printemps.
Conclusion
The Airport Authority's objective is to deliver a service that
is safe, comfortable, and convenient.
At Ottawa International, we are committed to a higher level of
customer satisfaction and to making the airport more efficient.
We also want an airport that truly reflects the character of the
region -- one that the community can be proud of.
And, if we coin 1997 as the year of "Catch-Up", 1998
will be "The Year of Transition". As we become a partner
to more and more of the region's social and business opportunities,
the airport will contribute its strengths to ensure continued
high standards of prosperity and quality of life for the region's
residents.
The Board of Directors and the Airport Authority staff are working
hard to meet the needs of our community. We are confident that
with the Master Plan we will be meeting the needs (and exceeding
the expectations) of this vibrant, developing region. With the
changes and the plans for future changes, the airport is, more
and more, your Capital Connection to the world.