The issue of having to pay for parking at hospitals has been a concern of mine for many years, and I believe needs to be addressed by both leaders prior to the upcoming provincial election.
The only explanation given to date is that the revenue from the parking is put back into the health budget, but that does not explain why persons and families of persons who require medical attention are burdened with this cost.
The hourly rates are exorbitant and the company that has been given the contract to police the matter is profiting on the backs of those who need treatment.
I can well appreciate the problems that could result if totally unrestricted parking were permitted in hospital lots.
However, that could readily be dealt with by having persons sign in and out, which would require them to identify the person(s) they might be visiting, and time constraints could also be instituted to control the situation.
There is no viable reason for the excessively high rates charged at hospital parking lots, and if both the health unit executive and the provincial government were honest they could do nothing but agree with this statement.
Mission and Delta have bylaws in effect that prohibit charging in hospital parking lots, and that similar bylaws should be set down in other municipalities if the provincial government and the health units refuse or fail to take appropriate action.
The current situation can only be described as bullying – yes, bullying against the sick and their families.
This is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed by the next provincial government.
Frank Wirrell, Abbotsford
