Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly is pushing the Porter Airlines’ jet expansion plan ahead even though city officials want to slow the process.

A new city report calls for new caps on flights and passenger loads at the island airport before a decision is even considered to allow Porter to fly Bombardier’s CSeries jets there.

The city wants a vote in early 2015, after more details have been firmed up; Kelly wants to see the decision settled before this October’s election.

“I will work very hard to realize that because I think ... the majority of councillors will realize that by supporting this they will be supporting the interests of the people of Toronto, as well as the interests of the waterfront community,” he said.

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The timing is critical. Proponents of jets want a decision now, in case the next city council opposes lifting the jet ban and the proposed 400-metre runway extension. Porter Airlines has also been pushing for a swift response as it hopes to fly to destinations farther afield in 2016.

Kelly argued the report calling for a framework agreement setting a formal cap on travellers and flights is “a win-win situation” — it would satisfy waterfront residents with firm numbers, and the city would enjoy economic and job benefits from the airport’s growth.

The report, released Thursday, is scheduled to be debated at next Tuesday’s executive committee. Decisions to extend the runway and lift the jet ban are currently not on the agenda.

Councillor Gord Perks doubts a decision on the airport’s future could be made by the last council meeting in August.

“There is no possibility of having a final decision as the staff has laid out. We can’t get an airport management plan, an environmental assessment, a transportation plan done by August,” he said, referring to city staff demands.

We’re talking about the economic life of this city, about our ability to compete in the future against other urban regions Norm Kelly Deputy Mayor

Perks, who opposes jets at the island airport, said he would like council to have no further discussions with the port authority until there is a tighter cap on passengers, arguing the current number is already too high given the traffic jams near the airport.

The airport now handles about two million local passengers a year plus 300,000 passengers who arrive at the island airport to transfer to other flights.

Under existing rules, annual passenger traffic could grow to 3.8 million with the 202 daily available takeoff and landing slots.

The city’s proposal would limit passengers initially to 2.4 million local passengers a year, and no more than 884 passengers per peak hour, with only 16 takeoffs or landings per peak hour.

Volumes would grow to 2.7 million a year, or 1,178 passengers per peak hour in the second stage with 20 takeoffs or landings per peak hour, with final caps to be determined later.

In a statement, Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce said the city’s requirements are not unexpected, but he wants to see them addressed quickly.

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“Flight and passenger caps recommended in the report are stringent. We support caps in principle, but believe they require further discussion,” he said.

“To proceed with our aircraft order, we need greater certainty regarding timelines.”

Deputy city manager John Livey said volume caps are important because the airport has had rapid growth since Porter’s launch in 2006. The policies would apply to any airlines operating at the airport.

Mark McQueen, chair of the Toronto Port Authority, issued a letter last week accusing city staff of inserting poison pills to make it difficult for the airport operator and Transport Canada to approve the Porter proposal.