Halifax municipal ice rink rental rates may be reviewed

Halifax recreation staff areplanningtoreviewice rental ratesin an effort to create a more consistent fee structure.

There are 24 ice sheets across the Halifax region and 20 of them are owned by the municipality.

Rates vary from $115 perhour for non-prime time ice at older facilities such as the BowlesArenaand the Gray Arena in Dartmouth, to $276 perhour for prime time ice at the BMO Centre in Bedford.

Pricing for fairness

Recreation officials argue that regional pricing would allow for greater fairness and equity in the system.

"The number I keep hearing is that they want everything right across the board to be $225 anhour," said Sean McKenna, president of the Central Minor Hockey Association.

McKenna is finewith that price for the newer facilities, but is not sure the same cost for the older rinks will go over well.

"Dressing room facilities aren't great, some don't have showers," said McKenna."So I think that's going to be a pretty hard argument to make."

The request for a fee review will be considered by regional council Tuesday afternoon.

If approved, Halifax staff hope to bring back a draft fee structure by January 2017.