Burnaby city council voted Monday to slash a controversial program that allows some local politicians and volunteers to golf for free.

The proposal to shrink the fee-waiver program first came to council at a March 28 meeting but was tabled following a motion from Coun. Paul McDonell. He said he wanted staff to survey surrounding municipalities to see whether they had similar programs.

article continues below

Of the seven cities with municipally owned golf courses surveyed, none offered similar waivers.

Burnaby’s fee-waiver program offers free access to its leisure facilities, including recreation centres, pools and its two golf courses: Burnaby Mountain and Riverway. Past and present members of council and the parks, recreation and culture commission, as well as current school board trustees, library board members and freemen are included in the program.

The proposed changes would discontinue the program for past mayors and councillors, former parks commissioners and all members of the school and library boards. The changes 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.

Both McDonell and Coun. Colleen Jordan said on Monday they were worried about cutting the program for library and parks board members, who are unpaid volunteers.

The two councillors said they had hoped city staff would have presented a more fulsome report comparing responsibilities and benefits for members of similar boards in other cities.

McDonell said there had been a “breakdown in communications” with the city’s director of parks.

“We just wanted to be fair, to look at what our commissioners have to do and what responsibilities they have,” he said.

The report recommending changes to the waiver program passed with McDonell, Jordan and Coun. Dan Johnston opposed. If the bylaw changes pass final adoption at a future council meeting, the they will come into effect in 2020.