To comply with a directive issued last year by the Quebec Health Department, for the second time since 2015, the McGill University Health Centre is lowering its controversial parking rates.

Patients and their families argued that the hefty parking rates constituted a “disguised health tax” and hindered access to care.

As of April 1, the maximum daily rate will drop from $25 to $24, still the highest of any hospital in the province. The maximum rate will also only kick in after four hours rather than 90 minutes. And the first half-hour of parking will be free instead of $10.

The MUHC is among the last health organizations to comply with the directive, which actually took effect on Nov. 30, 2016.

• The Jewish General Hospital is operating a new underground lot as well, and its maximum daily rate is $20. The fee to park for up to 90 minutes will drop to $16 from $18.
• The Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) lowered its maximum daily rate to $21 from $22 two days before the Nov. 30 deadline.
• The Ontario government announced last year that its hospitals had to freeze or cut in half their parking rates. Daily rates as low as $10 were frozen immediately.

Source Montreal Gazette

“It’s always good news when the MUHC users get a break, but the cut is not deep enough. Let’s not forget that the majority of the population was against the construction of the superhospital,” said Manuel Fernandes,interim president MUHCEU, “Therefore, it’s ironic the MUHC is defending a parking rate, which is absorbed by the patients and their families for a project the majority didn’t want.”

Fernandes, also wants the monthly staff parking rate, $115 for employees and $230 for doctors to be lowered. “Our neighbor next door, the Shriners hospital, offers free parking to their staff.”