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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, December 4, 2013 | 4 Oakville backing away from seniors' discount clawback by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville Town council recently voted to maintain the current 20 per cent seniors discount on recreational memberships and programs -- however, many seniors are not celebrating. A group of disgruntled seniors said Oakville Town council approved new pricing in 2010, that saw the 35 per cent discount for residents -- aged 65 and older and in place since 1994 -- reduced to 30 per cent. This fall, it was reduced again, this time to 20 per cent with the downward spiral previously scheduled to continue until the discount was eliminated by 2016. While the recent ruling will nix the full brunt of the envisioned discount decrease, some seniors are unhappy stating the discount clawback was allowed to proceed from 35-20 per cent without proper consultation. They also noted seniors appeared to be singled out for the clawback while Town employees maintained their 50 per cent discounts at recreation centres and full-time students, aged 14 and up, continue to receive a discount of 35 per cent. "We have no option, but to accept it (20 per cent discount), although we remain disappointed with the process," said Oakville senior Robert McKenna, after the recent council meeting. "No member of either the budget committee or the council addressed our initial concern of discrimination and none raised any concerns that decisions are being made without any attempt to give prior notice to the affected parties." McKenna said he was also disappointed the initial staff report calling for the discount reduction was not revisited as the seniors group had requested. The Town's Director of Recreation and Culture, Nina de Vaal has previously said that, in 2010, council moved to focus subsidies for seniors on programs offered through Oakville's four seniors' centres. No member of either the budget committee or the council addressed our initial concern of discrimination and none raised any concerns that decisions are being made without any attempt to give prior notice to the affected parties. Robert McKenna, Oakville senior "We currently offer a wide variety of low-cost programs through the Town's four seniors' centres, open to all residents over 50 years of age," said de Vaal. "Consequently, the 35 per cent discount at recreation centres was to be phased out over a period of five years. It should be noted overall, our citizen surveys have shown residents generally prefer the Town to consider increasing user fees before increasing taxes." McKenna and others argued the seniors' centres do not have the same facilities as the recreation centres and that increasing the cost of recreational memberships and programs hurts seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes. During last week's council meeting, Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor and 2014 Budget Committee Chair Tom Adams said even with the reduction to 20 per cent, the cost of recreational memberships and programs discounts are consistent with those offered by Mississauga and Burlington. Adams also pointed out a one-year recreation centre senior fitness memberships costs $300 in Oakville, around $480 in Burlington and around $350 in Mississauga. McKenna argued services offered at recreation centres in Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga vary wildly and as such the comparison is not valid. Fareshare needs donations While the holidays are a season of abundance for many, others go hungry at least once a week, according to recent surveys from Fareshare food bank. "Our surveys show that 32 per cent of our clients report going hungry at least once a week, while 13 per cent are children," said Nancy Bromberg, volunteer president at Fareshare. "This is the season of generosity and we are a better society if all among us are able to share this celebration on a more equal basis." The food bank's annual Christmas food drive is just one of the ways Fareshare's goal can be accomplished. "The support of the Oakville community, both with groceries and monetary donations will help make this possible for the 1,200 people we will help during the holiday season," Bromberg said. The holiday food drive begins Friday (Dec. 6) and continues through Dec. 22 with drop-off locations available at all Oakville grocery stores and fire stations, and Oakville Nissan at 2316 South Service Rd. W. Donations can also be made at the food bank at 1240 Speers Rd., unit 6. Items most needed for the holiday food drive, include: canned goods, salmon, chunky stew , pasta, ham, pasta sauce, instant coffee, and canned fruit. Additional items requested include: powdered laundry soap; soda crackers; rice or pasta; cookies, crackers, and desserts; cold cereal; baby cereal and biscuits; raisins (small boxes); crispy rice cereal squares; pudding/fruit cups and granola bars. Last year's food drive helped 364 families (643 adults and 513 children) during the holiday season, with Fareshare expecting to help the same number of families this year. For more information or an extended list of donation items, visit www.oakvillefoodbank.com.