The cost to hockey leagues of lacing up for practice and games is set to rise if city council approves a proposed fee increase for ice-time rentals.

As part of the 2015 budget negotiations, staff have recommended increasing the cost of rink permits by 7.25 per cent, a 5 per cent bump over the inflationary increase directed by council.

That increase would affect all types of permits and would add an additional cost of $5 to $8 per hour of ice time permits for youth skating both recreationally and competitively.

John Gardner, president of the Greater Toronto Hockey League, said those rising costs are bound to box out some kids whose parents are stuck paying for growing registration fees — currently close to $500 per player — to cover the cost of permit fees, equipment and travel.

“It’s too bad the kids can’t vote,” Gardner said, adding that house leagues have already seen a drop in registration because of the cost to families. “Some parents just can’t afford it, and to me that’s morally criminal.”

The GTHL, a non-profit organization, spends the largest chunk of its operating funds each year on ice time: more than $5 million in total, Gardner said. That doesn’t cover the cost of practice ice time for more than 50 clubs in the league, which together have 40,000 players.

A hike in recreation fees may also affect sports fields designated by the city as “premier.” A 12.25 per cent hike in permit fees is proposed for such fields, defined as adult-sized fields with dugouts, dedicated staff and daily grooming. (The city has ranked all of its fields from level “C,” with the lowest quality and least maintenance, to “premier.”)

Greg Dennis, president of the Scarborough Stingers baseball club, for youth aged 9 to 19, said that in his club’s case, the increased cost for renting two diamonds between five and seven days a week could amount to a “$32,000 tax on kids.”

That’s because Neilson Park, where the teams play, is one of seven fields recently reclassified as “premier.” Organizations using recently reclassified fields will see the higher costs phased in over two years, beginning in 2016.

But after complaining to city staff about the exorbitant cost of continuing their program, Dennis and the city say they have come to a peaceful resolution. The Neilson field will remain an “A” classified facility, avoiding the increased fees.

“Happily, I think sanity and reason have taken a grip of this issue,” Dennis said Friday. “They’re prepared to bring them to the same level that every other kid in Toronto pays.”

Ann Ulusoy, director of management services for the city’s parks, forestry and recreation division, said the city cannot even cover 50 per cent of its operating costs from permit fees.

“We did a comparison with other municipalities and what their rates are and found that City of Toronto rates are significantly below the GTA municipal average,” Ulusoy said. Raising rink time by an additional 5 per cent brings the fees into mid-range.

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Councillor Janet Davis said it may be time to review the city’s current user fee policy, developed in 2011, which directs the city to try to recover full costs except where there is an individual or collective benefit.

“We’ve got to keep these types of programs available for families,” Davis said.