Toronto’s Executive Committee has voted to proceed with Porter Airlines’ plans for jets at Billy Bishop airport.

But very slowly.

After a day of passionate debate and presentations by close to 200 members of the public, the Executive committee voted 11-to-1 to accept the recommendations in a staff report to move ahead with negotiations on expansion at the island airport. It includes several conditions, including a cap on the number of jet flights.

Both sides called the decision a victory. Porter CEO Robert Deluce expressed delight that the proposal has passed another stage. But expansion opponent Councillor Adam Vaughan says the Executive has made the deal more restrictive, and protects more people.

The motion moves to the full city council next week, where the debate promises to be a raucous one. If council accepts the staff report, a final decision won’t be made until after the next council is elected.