Airport authorities would have to establish noise management committees, develop climate action plans and report annually on the diversity of their executive ranks and board of directors under proposed new federal legislation. Bill C-52, introduced just before the House of Commons recessed for the summer, sets out the framework for a new Air Transportation Accountability Act and introduces amendments to the Transportation Act to require federally regulated transportation providers to report on barriers to accessibility.
Approximately 90 per cent of Canadian air travel is channelled through the 26 facilities in the National Airports System, most of which are operated by not-for-profit airport authorities holding long-term leases with the federal government. It’s proposed that airports surpassing the threshold of 60,000 flights per year for three consecutive years would be required to have a noise management committee.
Such committees would deal with questions and complaints from the public, lead public consultations related to any alterations in flight paths and would be required to hold public meetings at least four times per year. Membership, at minimum, is to include a representative from the airport operator, NAV Canada, the airport’s host municipality and an air carrier operating from the airport.
Climate action plans would be a specific requirement for airport authorities, and would entail two documents. An adaptation plan would assess current and projected impacts of climate change on airport operations and assets and identify required response measures. As well, the adaptation plan would consider potential commercial opportunities that climate change could present. A complementary mitigation plan would include a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target and a description of the actions that will taken to achieve the target. Both documents would have to be updated at five-year intervals.
Details for reporting on diversity are to be established in future regulations. However, the proposed Act prescribes a published annual report and concurrent submission to the Minister of Transportation. Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Transportation Act would give the government authority to require regulated transportation providers to provide data related to accessibility within their facilities and operations, which could then be made publicly available.
