Port Alberni City Council spent much of their Committee of the Whole meeting last night discussing Seniors issues.
Councillor Charles Mealey says a proposed 137% increase to seniors passes is disproportionate to other groups.
“An annual membership for a senior to purchase today is $172.80 and it would go to $409.88 and that’s too much,” he said.
Mealey suggested the seniors rate be tied to the lower youth rate.
He also warned increasing charges on the Sunshine Club could have a devastating domino effect.
“If we price out the Sunshine Club we might as well just close Echo Centre and just be done with it during the day and I think we all know what that means,” he said. “We would have to talk about staffing levels and other users as well. So from the people that I talk to, this is the major issue right now for seniors is that it’s going up exponentially and it’s just so much at one time.”
Mealey suggested the seniors rate be tied to the lower youth rate, and city staff work towards a long-time lease with the Sunshine Club.
Councillor Deb Haggard said seniors rates should apply at 65 and not 55 as currently.
