Sudbury 'seniors' now have to wait 10 extra years to get discounts

Morning North7:04At what age do you become a senior?

In Sudbury, at least as far as the city is concerned, the age at which you become a senior will be changed from 55 to 65 years old. We went to different groups in the city for some reaction to the chance.

Some seniors may no longer be able to apply for discounts on transit and other user fees in Sudbury, now that the city has changed what it means to be an older adult.

City councillors voted on Tuesday to bump the definition of a senior from 55 to 65.

The change means adults younger than 65 won't receive discounts based on their age, and will bring in about $175,000 in savings next year.

Friendly to Seniors chair John Lindsay said he's not concerned because people are working longer.

"We talk about Freedom 55. I guess we joke now with the current economic situation that it's more like Freedom 85."

People between the ages of 55 and 65 will miss out on some perks, like a new pilot project that gives free bus rides to seniors on Mondays.

A former member of the city's sustainable mobility advisory panel welcomes the decision to increase the official age of what Sudbury calls a senior.

"Giving them an advantage over say, a 25-year-old who's starting out, who's saddled with student loans, who's paying rent, trying to save up for their first house ... seems unfair," Samantha Baulch said.

She pointed to recent Bank of Montreal research that shows seniors are nine times wealthier than millennials.

The chair of the community advocacy group Friends of Sudbury Transit is also welcoming the change because people who are 55 are usually still working.

"I think it's a bit too soon to be offering them freebies or discounts compared to people who are maybe 24," Lily Noble said.

"They're just getting going on their careers. You know, contract work. It's pretty difficult  out there for the youth these days."