Wildrose Party Leader Brian Jean announced Tuesday that a Wildrose government would work to help Albertans visiting the province’s hospitals, by giving them a break on the cost of parking.
Jean said Tuesday that his party would make it mandatory for the province’s hospitals to offer two hours of free parking for visitors – in an effort to ‘ease the burden’ faced by people visiting loved ones in hospital.
The leader said Alberta Health Services generates more than $70 million in revenue from parking fees – in 2013-2014, AHS made 30 percent, or more than $18 million in profits.
“Visiting a sick family member or love done in the hospital comes with a heavy emotional cost, we shouldn’t add financial costs to what is already a difficult time,” Jean said in a news release.
According to Jean, the PCs increased hospital parking rates in 2013 – and said current rates are up to $10 for a routine hospital visit.
Jean also pledged to establish lower parking rates for repeat hospital visitors, those with family members or loved ones in long-term hospital care.
