Purpose of this policy

1   To provide barrier-free access to basic levels of service for customers in financial need. Some limitations may apply, in order to increase the opportunity for as many individuals as possible to be subsidized.

Authority

2   Council.

Interpretation

3   Schedule “A” contains definitions of terms used in this Policy.

Definitions

4   In this policy

"Applicant" means the person(s) making the application.

"City" means the City of Abbotsford.

"Facilities" means all City indoor Parks, Recreation & Culture facilities.

"Family" means the definition as set out by the Canada Revenue Agency, as amended or repealed from time to time.

"General Manager" means the General Manager, Parks, Recreation & Culture, for the City and delegate.

"Program Guide" means the regularly published Parks, Recreation & Culture Program Guide for the City.

"Special Needs Program" means the City Parks, Recreation & Culture Special Needs Program.

Guiding principles

5   (1) Subsidy is provided through a pass for access to Facilities; as well as, the offer for a discount, as approved by Council, on specific programs, and cannot be redeemed for cash and is not transferable.

(2) The Parks, Recreation & Culture Department staff will:

(a) administer the Parks, Recreation & Culture (PRC) Subsidy Program application process;

(b) ensure confidentiality and privacy for all PRC Subsidy Applicants; and

(c) communicate the program to the public, through the PRC Program Guide and financial assistance agencies.

(3) The PRC Subsidy year will be May 1^st through to April 30^th of the following year.

(4) Allocated passes and discounts will expire and be removed from all accounts on April 30^th annually; and cannot be carried over into the next subsidy. Applicants must reapply each year.

(5) The following criteria will establish eligibility for the program:

(a) Applicants must be provide proof that they are full-time, Abbotsford residents; and all individuals listed on the application must reside full-time in the residence listed on the application;

(b) Applicants must meet the appropriate Family/household net income threshold based on Statistic Canada’s After Tax Low Income Thresholds; and provide proof of net income for individuals who are 19 years of age or older who reside in the residence/household, through the previous year’s Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada, AND the net income is above $5,000;

(c) Applicants who are listing dependant children must also provide the Revenue Canada GST credit and BC Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit Notice (GT19E), listing the names of the dependant children listed on the PRC Subsidy application;

(d) Applications received for subsidy where the Applicant has unused tickets on their account, that were obtained using a previous year’s subsidy, will be denied, until those tickets are used or withdrawn;

(e) Applicants who participate in the PRC Special Needs Program are not permitted to participate in the PRC Subsidy Program; and

(f) Applicants who are banned from PRC Facilities are not permitted to participate in the PRC Subsidy Program.

(6) Applicants who have met the criteria of low income will be issued:

(a) a pass for access to Facilities (annual, one month or three month pass, depending on the date the application is received); and/ or

(b) a discount, as determined by Council, on specific PRC programs; as approved by Council.

(7) Where it is determined by the General Manager, that the Applicant is misusing the Subsidy, they may be required to verify their need, OR the credit may be revoked.