Why would you endure Air Canada and Pearson Airport if you can fly Porter out of the Toronto Island Airport?
I recently flew to NYC (via Newark) on Porter and it was a pleasantly civilized experience. The check-in was efficient. The entire waiting area is the lounge and is comparable to Air Canada's Elite lounge at Pearson. It's fully stocked, the couches are comfy and it has free wi-fi. The plane itself is brand spanking new with ample leg room. Plus, they serve food on the plane.
I loved getting off the subway at Union, then hopping on the shuttle to take me on the 2 min ride to the lake. From there, I hopped on the ferry for a 2 min trip to the island airport. The bonus is there's no crazy line through airport security.
The return trip from NYC to T-dot was pleasant enough. However, you are faced with only two custom officers processing all the passengers. It still moved along faster than Pearson. The only mildly unpleasant experience was having to wait for the ferry to bring you to civilization. Now, I did land close to midnight--after a bender the previous night in Nolita--so it made the ferry wait feel like eternity. And you have to wait in small holding area that's definitely not as plush as the lounge.
All in all, it's a brilliant way to travel. I am dreading the news that Porter shuts down because they don't have enough travelers. So, fly Porter and let's keep it in the air.