Nationwide petition for cost-free hospital parking hits Alberta

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A national campaign aimed at eliminating paid parking at hospitals has now reached Calgary.

Winnipeg cancer patient Collin Bryce (Theo) Kennedy began circulating his petition at hospitals in Calgary in a bid to eradicate on-site parking fees for patients and caregivers.

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In the few short months since he started his petition in July, Kennedy has gathered more than 3,000 signatures from across Canada.

“I discovered this is a nationwide problem,” Kennedy said.

“Let’s give the people of Canada a chance to know what’s really going on and make an informed decision.”

Patient advocates, seniors groups and even the Canadian Medical Association Journal have argued hospital parking fees amount to a tax on the sick.

Kennedy, who is living with a rare form of leukemia, decided to take matters into his own hands after his mother paid almost $600 for hospital parking over six weeks when visiting him during his cancer treatments.

“There’s something wrong with that,” Kennedy said. “It’s profiteering. The meters are an obstacle between patients and their treatment, and it’s reprehensible.”

Kennedy’s story made headlines after a video was shot of him filling a parking meter with spray foam in the spring.

After seeking the advice of a Winnipeg MP, Kennedy decided a more effective strategy would be to begin a petition for free parking for patients and caregivers in hospitals across Canada. 

Having already met the minimum requirement of 500 signatures, Kennedy expects the petition to land in Parliament in December.

Rick Lundy, founder of the Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society in Alberta, said he applauds and supports Kennedy on his mission.

“For him to be doing this is very admirable. I agree with him completely,” Lundy said. “We can’t expect people who are sick or at the hospital every day to pay the amount they’re charging — it’s absolute robbery.”

Alberta Health Services provides and maintains parking at 31 facilities in nine communities provincewide.

In 2014-15, AHS took in $75 million in parking revenues, using $28 million to cover operating costs, $29 million to pay down debt and moving $18 million into a reserve fund that now sits at more than $60 million.

Recognizing the sometimes difficult effect faced by families paying for parking, last year AHS provided the equivalent of about 20,000 days of free compassionate parking.

Still, parking fees are an issue Lundy frequently hears from many Calgary patients who either can’t afford it, or who simply don’t need another financial burden to worry about when already dealing with the stress of having, or supporting someone with, a serious illness.

“It’s almost making money off the sick, that’s what it comes down to,” Lundy explained. “And what about seniors? It’s really sad. These people are parking as far from the hospital as they can and then walking. That’s just not fair.”