Petition pushes province to continue free parking for B.C. health-care workers
Posted February 10, 2022 10:15 pm.
Last Updated February 10, 2022 10:16 pm.
More than 22,000 people have signed an online petition that’s pushing the B.C. government to provide free parking for health-care workers.
In April of 2020, the province stopped charging fees for hospital parking. One of the reasons was to reduce transmission of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people using touch screens and lining up at kiosks.
However, on March 4 fees are being reinstated for most people going to a hospital — including staff.
“Maintaining across-the-board free hospital parking is making it hard for patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors to find a spot, as non-hospital users are taking advantage of the situation to park for free while conducting business that’s not hospital-related,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix when announcing the move.
“These hospital parking spots must be available for those who need them most.”
RELATED: Paid parking at B.C. hospitals to be suspended until further notice
Free parking will continue for patients receiving dialysis or cancer treatment, for parents or caregivers of children staying in the hospital overnight, and volunteers.
The petition is asking the province not to charge workers.
‘Instead of charging health care workers, who do not have the option of working from home during the pandemic, why not provide a free parking pass for them to display in their car,” the petition reads.
It also says not all hospitals are seeing people take advantage of the free parking, particularly those with lots that require fob access to a parkade.
CityNews has reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment.
