Hospital parking rates going down, but not if you're going to Princess Margaret
Lower parking rates go into effect for patients and frequent visitors at Ontario's hospitals Saturday — but not for those who want to park at the Princess Margaret Cancer Care Centre in Toronto.
It's one of the Toronto hospitals that do not own their own lots. Instead, visitors use a multi-story parkade across the street that's owned by Ontario Power Generation, a provincial government agency.
And OPG has refused to give Princess Margaret patients and visitors the new, discounted rate, according to University Health Network (UHN) spokesperson Gillian Howard.
"We approached the owners of the lot and they were not willing to give a rate for patients and visitors," she said Friday.
'Not a hospital lot'
OPG spokesperson Neal Kelly said the parkade, at 40 Murray St., was built by the utility for its employees. "It's not a hospital parking lot," he said.
He said OPG is "sensitive to the needs of patients. We will continue to work with the University Health Network to try to come to a solution."
But when CBC News asked what stage those discussions are at and if any meetings between UPN and OPG are scheduled, Kelly didn't offer any details.
UHN, which operates Princess Margaret and several other health facilities in Toronto, owns a lot about 500 metres away, east of University Avenue.
People who want the discounted rate can use that lot, Howard said. Patients and visitors will first have to check in at the Toronto General Hospital information desk to ensure that they are eligible for the rate, which only applies to patients and frequent visitors.
50 per cent discount
In January, the province announced the new parking fee rules, which dictate that starting Oct. 1, all hospitals with a parking rate of more than $10 per day must offer five-day, 10-day and 30-day passes at a 50 per cent discount off the daily rate, allowing patients and visitors access to the lot without paying each time they enter..
The lot at 40 Murray St., across from Princess Margaret, charges about $20 a day.
Late Friday, the office of Health and Long-term Care Minister Eric Hoskins issued a statement on the issue.
"We understand that the parkade adjacent to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is not owned by UHN, the parking directive will apply to the lot owned by the hospital on Elizabeth Street, roughly 500 meters away. As the hospital parking directive takes effect tomorrow, we will continue to monitor its rollout to determine whether any changes may be appropriate."
