The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Getting and staying in shape could pay off more than just working muscles Ð it could make your wallet fatter. Curves in Flin Flon has joined an initiative by Curves in Nova Scotia to try and gain federal tax credits for gym fees. "This is a great opportunity to make it known just how much money the government could save in the long run if they encourage and financially support the practice of regular exercise," said Dianne Kritzer, manager of Curves, in a news release. "We are very excited to support this effort." Kritzer was able to get 276 signatures in a week and a half and sent them off last Friday to the Curves in Nova Scotia which is collecting them throughout the country and working with its local Member of Parliament for the income tax deduction to be introduced. "That's pretty good," she said. "It's time to support people who stay fit." Kritzer said she believes there is a good chance that this petition will create the tax credit and that the government is already taking action with the Sport Tax Plan for Parents. "This improves the quality of life," Kritzer said. Curves has 452 members working to keep in tip top shape or get there. "It's a pretty good size club," Kritzer said. The Aqua Centre had 817 people use the weight room in April. Dustin Shaw and Kyle Blatz are two who feel the tax credit is a good idea. "It will get more people out," Shaw said during a workout. For him, it doesn't matter if the credit becomes reality because he will work out either way. Blatz stated another fact. "I don't know if it would make more people workout," he explained. "It's a lifestyle for me. I work out five to six days a week. People will work out if they want to." Heather Todoschuk, recreation programmer for the City of Flin Flon, felt such a tax credit should have been established a long time ago to help save money in the health care system. "It would encourage people to sign up," she said. When asked why this hasn't been done, Todoschuk didn't have an answer other than saying "it's probably not a priority."
