To the editor: Re: "Park board needs to consult more on OneCard roll-out," Letters, July 12.
This letter is in response to Anita Romaniuk, former COPE Park Commissioner's letter. The details of the roll-out of the OneCard program were jointly negotiated with the Community Centre Associations at the table and the Park Board. Once a community centre ratifies the OneCard agreement, patrons will be able to use the OneCard to access all programming at that centre, not just Core Programming. Also, the OneCard agreement expands our low income program to provide those who qualify with a 50 per cent subsidy for programs offered by the association.
We respect the need for associations to have members to support their societies. Under the OneCard agreement, associations are free to solicit members, however, membership fees are not required for access. We believe that residents should not be required to pay a membership fee to access a public community centre. The OneCard replaces the 20 different membership cards and varying fees currently in our system.
Unfortunately, Ms. Romaniuk is correct, our Community Centre Associations are vulnerable to take-overs by partisan groups with agendas that are not aligned with the community interest. We have seen this with some associations deciding to spend public money on attack campaigns instead of local programming and equipment.
Niki Sharma,
Park board commissioner
