‘Senior’ definition may be clawed back from 65 to 55 in Oshawa
Published March 22, 2024 at 8:57 pm
Those ‘Freedom 55’ folks in Oshawa may catch a break on discounts on City programs and services if a staff motion to lower the definition of ‘senior’ from 65 to 55 is approved Monday.
The current bylaw defines a senior as 65 or older, with the wisdom of that age also earning a few perqs on reduced rates – as much as 35 per cent – for fitness class, facility rentals and the like.
If the motion is approved at Monday’s Council meeting those discounts will also be applied to those who are 55 or older.
Oshawa Senior Community Centres are already 55-plus, and all other municipalities in Durham Region provide senior discounts for those aged 55 years of age and older.
Oshawa Regional Councillor Brian Nicholson, himself a sprightly 64 years of age, said it is difficult to gauge the cost to the city but estimates it would mean about $30,000 less in revenue, based on current usage.
“But we are expecting to get more usage so it will probably have minimal impact,” he said. “We might even make some money.”
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