Parking rates increasing at Douglas Memorial as of December 16

Parking revenues are vital to operations at Niagara’s three hospitals and two urgent care centres.

That’s according to a news release from Niagara Health on Monday announcing that parking rates at their sites in the region are increasing.

The hike takes effect December 16 at hospitals in St. Catharines, Welland, and Niagara Falls, as well as urgent care centres in Fort Erie and Port Colborne.

This is part of Niagara Health’s efforts to “support the financial sustainability of the hospital while continuing to provide exceptional care to our community.”

The maximum day rate will increase to $19 from $16.

Niagara Health says 80 per cent of parking revenues have a direct impact on patient care.

“Annually, parking revenues generate approximately $4.5 million to support capital equipment purchases and hospital operations,” reads the news release.

Niagara Health hasn’t increased parking rates in nearly nine years, despite rising costs, the hospital system said in its news release.

The updated rates follow the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Hospital Parking Directive and are aligned with parking rates of hospital peers, said Niagara Health.

To keep parking affordable, Niagara Health will continue offering discounts for frequent users, including staff, volunteers, students, patients and visitors, reads Monday’s news release.

Criticizing this announcement were Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates and the Ontario NDP who are calling on the province to end paid parking at public hospitals.

In a post on Gates’ Instagram, he said Ontarians having to pay for parking at hospitals is a wrong decision.

“The last thing a sick patient or a loved one or a front-line worker needs to be worried about is paying for parking,” said Gates.

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