The B.C. government continues on its quest to get back to “normal” again (whatever that is) by deciding that it’s OK to start gouging people for parking again at local hospitals, including in Burnaby.
Parking fees at Burnaby Hospital had been suspended for most of the COVID-19 pandemic
But Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on Jan. 20 that the fees would return starting on March 4 (Friday). At the time, Dix said the parking spots need to be available for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors and that free parking can continue to be extended for people who regularly receive acute-care.
"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," the minister stated. "These hospital parking spots must be available for those who need them most."
This, of course, is a dubious claim and is being used to deflect criticism with an excuse that can’t really be verified. Classic government deflection from a BC NDP government that hammered the BC Liberals over its user fees. As the song says, meet the new boss, same as the old boss. What this is all about is money and not helping out staff.
I’ve long had an issue with gouging people to pay for parking at hospitals because it punishes people who are often going through terribly emotional times. I can still remember when a family member suffered some catastrophic health failures and all of us who were visiting for long periods on a daily basis had to be put through the extra pain of coughing up these fees. I can’t imagine how this must hurt for people on fixed incomes visiting sick family members.
The whole thing feels greedy and disgusting.
Free parking will be available for patients who are receiving dialysis treatment, those undergoing cancer treatment in acute-care programs and for parents or caregivers of children staying in hospital overnight.
The province says volunteers will still be allowed to park for free and financial hardship provisions will continue to be handled on a case-by-case basis by health authorities.
The freezing of parking rates, which happened more than four years ago, will stay in place.
Parking rates at the Burnaby Hospital Parkade and Burnaby Hospital Emergency are as follows, according to Fraser Health:
Main lot - Burnaby Hospital Parkade
- First hour - $4.25
- Each additional hour - $3.50
- Day rate - $11.25
- Evenings - $5.25
- 24-hour rate - $16.50
- One-week permit - $45
- Two-week permit - $70.25
- One month permit - $140.25
- Seniors one-week permit - $33
- Seniors two-week permit - $60.25
- Seniors one-month permit - $120
Burnaby Hospital Emergency Lot
- First hour - n/a
- Each additional hour - $4.25
- Day rate - n/a
- Evenings - n/a
- 24-hour rate - n/a
- One-week permit - n/a
- Two-week permit - n/a
- One-month permit - n/a
- Seniors one-week permit - n/a
- Seniors two-week permit - n/a
- Seniors one-month permit - n/a
- with files from Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News, and Jess Balzer, Burnaby NOW
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
