By Ashley Wiebe

Petition for free hospital parking lands in Ottawa

Dec 8, 2016 | 12:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The fight over parking near hospitals has been heard in Ottawa.

A petition was circulated earlier this summer, asking the Trudeau government to consider providing free parking around medical facilities.

More than 5,600 Albertans signed it, showing they too are frustrated with the current system.

While Alberta Health Services says the money collected goes directly back into the lots, our local MP believes there has to be another way.

“Why are they using our money to end up charging us when we’re sick?” said Linda Christiansen. “Or when our family members are sick?”

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It’s a question the 69-year-old is struggling to get a direct answer to.

Her name was one of 12,000 signatures on a petition asking the minister of health to make sure there’s adequate free parking for patients and care givers around medical facilities.

“I feel very, very sorry for everyone that has to go to the hospital and pay those high rates,” she said.

The 69-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year and recently broke her hip.

In the last two weeks, she’s been to the hospital nine times.

“Do you know what my husbands doing now? We refuse the pay the parking rates,” she said. “So he drives around and he’ll drive until he sees an opening.”

That’s saved her and her husband almost $70.

“You’re supposed to run all the way back down from where ever you are in the hospital and call up your electronic record and increase the amount,” she said about the machines, which were installed this past February. “Do you know how many old people can’t do that?”

The petition Christiansen signed was presented in the House of Commons earlier this week.

MP Glen Motz says he understands the frustration patients and their families are facing.

“I do know that there has to be a way that is able to be found that gives people some peace of mind when they’re there under already stressful circumstances,” he said over the phone.

Steve Rees with Alberta Health Services said he too understands why people are frustrated, and said if they didn’t have to charge for parking, they wouldn’t.

“We don’t receive any government funding to support parking,” he said. “All our parking facilities are required to be self-sustaining.”

“It’s almost cheaper to take a cab than it is to pay the parking rate,” Christiansen said.

AHS offers weekly and monthly passes for patients who are at the hospital on a regular basis. Compassionate parking is also available for those who can’t afford the daily rates.

The petition is now in the hands of the Liberal Government.