“No one should have to worry about paying for parking when they go to the hospital.”
News from the Constituency Office of Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch
Posted May 7th, 2025
Niagara Centre NDP MPP Jeff Burch
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP MPP Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) has tabled a motion urging the provincial government to eliminate hospital parking fees for patients, families, and frontline hospital workers.
“No one should have to worry about paying for parking when they go to the hospital,” said Burch.
“Right now, people are spending hundreds of dollars a year just to access care—whether it’s for regular treatments, emergency visits, or to support a loved one. It is unfair to charge healthcare workers to park when they are at work to save lives.”
“Ontarians face many challenges when faced with a cancer diagnosis, with financial burden being a major concern. The 2024 Canadian Cancer Statistics report revealed that cancer costs the average patient around $33,000 in their lifetime, and most Canadians worry about covering these expenses.
Do you need to park at a public hospital in Niagara or anywhere else in the province? Then get that wallet out.
The Canadian Cancer Society works to address this issue, recognizing that solving the cost of cancer requires collective action — it takes a society. Ontario should follow Nova Scotia’s lead and ensure patients pay for the care they need, when and where they need it, with their OHIP card, not their credit card,” said Hillary Buchan-Terrell from the Canadian Cancer Society.
As of May 1, Nova Scotia’s Conservative Premier Tim Houston has implemented a similar policy, eliminating hospital parking fees across the province. The Nova Scotia government announced it will cover any resulting revenue shortfall and is developing a ticket validation system to ensure parking is reserved for patients, visitors, and healthcare workers.
“This is a common-sense solution to fight rising costs and improve access to health care,” said Burch.
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