City to refund program fees
City hall owes Maureen Dennis $300.
Her children, 3 and 5, were both signed up for swimming lessons at a city recreation centre this summer, but those classes never happened because of the city workers strike.
The city has announced plans to refund fees to those who were enrolled in the 4,425 cancelled city-run day camps, and swimming and leadership programs that were scheduled to take place between June 22 and July 15.
Dennis said she’s happy to see the $300 refund, but only because it’s one less thing to worry about.
“I was really dreading the thought of having to track it down,” she said of the cash.
It doesn’t make up for the costly alternative plans she had to make, she said.
Dennis now plans to drive her young children to Port Credit for swimming lessons.
“It was either take them to Port Credit or I actually considered going out to my in-laws in Oakville, they have a pool there, and getting private lessons,” she said. “So either way, you’re looking at shelling out more cash for private lessons.”
She said the situation has been a letdown for her kids, too.
“I’ve got a 5-year-old who’s really disappointed he had nothing to do because this was his week to go swimming,” she said. “It’s not the end of the world, but it sort of all adds up.”
Residents who paid by credit card for cancelled Toronto programming will be credited, while those who paid by debit card, cheque or cash will receive a cheque in the mail.
Those who don’t receive their refund should call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338.
More information is available at [url=http://www.toronto.ca/labour-relations]www.toronto.ca/labour-relations[/url].