The City of Burnaby is the only municipality in the region that allows VIPs to golf for free, city staff concluded after surveying other B.C. cities.

Burnaby council members were set to vote on whether to slash a controversial fee waiver program at their last regular meeting, but Coun. Paul McDonell moved to table the proposal and ask staff to report back on whether other communities have similar policies.

article continues below

Burnaby staff identified nine municipally owned golf courses in the Lower Mainland, plus one in Saanich and one in Kelowna. Of the seven municipalities surveyed, none had a waiver or pass program allowing certain citizens to golf for free.

In Burnaby, past and present members of council and parks board, as well as current school trustees, library board members and freemen can golf for free at the city’s two courses, Burnaby Mountain and Riverway.

The proposed changes would discontinue the program for past mayors and councillors, former parks commissioners and people nominated by council members, as well as all members of the school and library boards. The proposal would also see fee waivers capped at $1,500 per person annually, replacing a $55,000 annual cap currently in place for the entire program.

The proposed policy changes will once again be up for a vote at Monday’s council meeting.