Group fitness companies doing classes outdoors will not get a break on costs if they decide to use park space.

Councillor Arjun Singh proposed waiving the $18-dollar-a-day cost to rent park space, but withdrew his motion at the council table, after a lack of support.

Singh says many fitness companies are hard-shipped financially by “circuit breaker” COVID-19 restrictions.

“I know that from the yoga perspective, from a group fitness perspective, they’re also now forced to be outside, and not using their facility like they have been. And they’re also now trying to get into parks and public spaces,” Singh says.

He adds many fitness companies are paying overhead costs and renting park space do to their work is an added cost.

Singh also says the city has stepped up financially for food service by helping pay for outdoor patios; the city has budgeted $350,000 to help cover the costs, with COVID-19 funding from the provincial government.

Councillor Sadie Hunter says indoor fitness classes are only banned until May 24. She says if they were longer – such as through the summer – then it would be more reasonable to float this idea.

“I appreciate that we have supported sidewalks extensions to facilitate patios, but this is for five weeks. And I think it is a small group, so it’s a nominal fee for an individual who decides to participate.”

Mayor Ken Christian says the $18 dollars pays for scheduling, so public parks are not double-booked.

“So that when someone shows up for a yoga class there isn’t a soccer game going on at the same time. And that is an administrative cost of us scheduling the park so that there is no duplication or overlap in users.”