Seniors’ info line cut off

The Seniors’ Information Line is being cut off, in a move to save money and eliminate the duplication of services.

The line, which costs about $50,000 a year to operate, was launched in 2006 with an eye to giving elderly citizens a centralized number to call for access to services.

Since then, however, the city has launched 311, the number to call to access municipal services. Another number, 211, was launched last winter and offers access to health and other human resources.

And the local Community Care Access Centre operates 310-CCAC (2222), a line that connects people with health services in their home.

As a result, calls to the Seniors’ Information Line plummeted. Only 814 calls were made last year to the line, compared to more than 400,000 calls to the 311 number.

Members of the community services committee agreed to cut funding for the line effective Dec. 31 of this year.