By Allyah Esmail
At the shallow end of the pool there are a few women standing, waiting for an instructor. On the other side people are floating out from the water and all that can be seen are flashes of different coloured bathing suits, as the chlorinated blue water swirls around the swimmers.
Although swimming is considered a summer activity, the swimmers at the noon session at the Jack Purcell pool seem enthusiastic, even though snow is piling up outside.
Thanks to a fee increase that came into effect March 1, most of these swimmers paid over a dollar more than they used to for the use of this pool. For instance, adults used to pay a $2.35 drop-in fee. Now they pay $3.50.
“I still think that it’s the biggest deal in town,” says Betty McCord, a senior who visits the weight room and pool at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. She says that to get her own pool would be pricier and it could not be used in the winter.
“This is the best bargain in the city, even when you pay the extra dollar for the drop-in fee, especially for seniors.”
But Coun. Elisabeth Arnold disagrees.
“We should not increase user fees because we don’t want to increase taxes,” says Arnold.
The city-wide increase in pool fees came about when it was proposed by the city staff for the budget, says the Centertown councillor.
The city had promised not to increase taxes, so most of the councillors in Ottawa decided that harmonizing the fees for swimming activities like Aquafit — aerobics in water — as well as pool drop-ins and monthly passes for pool use would help bring in the money that will be needed to balance the budget, says Arnold.
Arnold voted against this motion for a number of reasons, including the fact that the higher prices make it more difficult for lower income families to enjoy this recreational activity.
“This is one more barrier for low income people, for who the extra $20 could go to groceries rather than swimming for their children,” says Arnold.
On the other hand, Daniel Chenier, the head of communication services for Ottawa, says there really is no barrier. Now, if people buy a pass for a month or more they can use it anywhere in Ottawa, something they could not do before.
“If it were free, it would make it easier, but the prices are still very affordable,” says Chenier.
The prices have gone up for all users of the pool. Before March 1, the cost for a child was $1.20, for a teenager $1.44. Now the cost for a child or a teenager is $1.50.
The most dramatic increases have occurred with the adult prices. For a monthly pass it used to cost $28, but now costs $35.
A three-month pass used to cost $52.50 but now the price is $70.
A six-month pass now costs $130, up from $82.25.
The fees for Aquafit have dramatically increased as well. Where once the fee was $24 for seniors and $42 for adults, it is now $60 for adults and $50 for seniors.
Linda Pajot, the facility manager at Jack Purcell Community Centre was unavailable for comment and could not say whether the increase in fees would affect the number of people who used the pool.
“For them (those in a lower income bracket) it might be harder, but it is still excellent,” says McCord.
But Arnold says it could be better.
“I think that it would be better if it (the money for these public services) came out of the tax base,” says Arnold, adding that “we as a community are stronger when we think about the collective good.”