By Sandra Thomas
Staff writer

Seniors who want discounts for parks board facilities will have to continue to prove they receive income assistance or meet Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off.

Despite impassioned please from seniors at an emotional meeting Monday night, the parks board voted to stick to its Jan. 29 decision to base discounted access to programs on income, not age.

"If you apply a means-test to use of services you’re throwing up even more barriers in the way of the poor or near-poor," said Phil Lyons, co-chair of Seniors Network B.C. "Seniors shouldn’t have to cry ‘poverty’ to get access to recreational services."

Until this year, seniors could use parks board facilities at 50 per cent off the regular adult rate, but in January, the board voted to cut the discount to 25 per cent over a three-year period, beginning with a drop from 50 to 40 per cent. Although the board said seniors with low incomes could still qualify for Leisure Access Cards, available to anyone with a low income, the idea was sent back for review after many seniors complained about the stigma attached.

A staff report considered Monday night said the board’s policy is based on the principle that all Vancouver residents should have access to basic recreational service, regardless of their ability to pay.

Vice-chairman Clarence Hansen said the board "agonized" over its decision to lower seniors’ discounts, but new statistics indicate seniors often have enough disposable income to pay more for recreational facilities.

Anita Ho, director of corporate services, told the board in January that older adults, on average, have higher disposable incomes than in the past, and that the average yearly income of seniors rose 18 per cent from 1981 to 1997. Ho also warned that if the proposal wasn’t accepted, the board may have to impose higher user fees on other groups.

The board voted to look at implementing a new "Smartcard," a multi-use civic card that Comm. Duncan Wilson suggested replace the access card. Staff from both the city and parks board’s information technology departments are expected to begin a feasibility study this fall.

But Lyons said a civic card still involves a means test to determine eligibility, leaving seniors back where they started. "They have to show documentation to prove they’re poor. Seniors have too much pride to do that."