Opinion: MUHC Parking Rates Should Not Be Viewed as a Revenue Source – Advertising Can Offset Costs

Manuel Fernandes, Interim President MUHC employees union.

Parking rates for both users and staff should be viewed as a service and not as an revenue source.

An update of my recent meeting with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Richard Fahey Director of Human Resources and Associate Director Vincenzo Altomonte, regarding the monthly staff parking rates which currently are set at $115 for employees and $230 for doctors.

Three points were brought to the table

1- Lowering the current parking rate. Our neighbor, the Shriner’s Hospital offer their employees free parking. The Jewish General Hospital Employee’s pay $25 per pay plus tax. (At the meeting it was confirmed there wold be no parking rate increase for 2017.)

Advertising revenue would be applied to offset the operational costs and reducing the parking rates for both users and staff.

Manuel Fernandes, Interim President MUHCEU

2- Place Dupuis,fertility clininc. The monthly parking fee is over $200 per month. The MUHC confirmed they are ‘shopping’ for a parking garage in the area which offers a better rate.

Gilman Pavilion. The MUHC will be looking into making a arragement with the old Montreal Forum parking garage.

3- Advertising was an option presented at the meeting to the MUHC. The use of advertising in the parking areas, on the back of the parking passes…

Advertising revenue would be applied to offset the operational costs and reducing the parking rates for both users and staff.

There are 1,270 employees parking spots at the Glen and another 1,582 for visitors, bringing the total to 2,852.

According to the Montreal Gazette, “If every visitor spot at the Glen was used for the day, it would represent $14.4 million annually in revenue. However, the real revenue should be substantially higher because a spot reaches the maximum fee of $25 after only 90 minutes, meaning there could be multiple “full day” fees paid for each parking spot.”