Hospital parking fees in Quebec to drop April 1

Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough councillor Lionel Perez announced that most hospital parking fees in the province of Quebec will be lowered as of April 1.

Those who are using contractors to manage their parking and have a fixed agreement will have to respect it.

READ MORE: MUHC reduces parking rates after much complaint

Changes include:

• 30-minute free grace period
• Reduced rates for daily, weekly and monthly parking permits with unlimited entries and exits
• Reduced rates for the elderly, for those who have to go to the hospital repeatedly, and for low income individuals

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The announcement was made during the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough council.

Perez presented a motion at council back in May 2015.

“We’ve had an increase of parking fees and certain conditions that were excessive and had a clear impact on residents around the hospital,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We've had an increase of parking fees and certain conditions that were excessive and had a clear impact on residents around the hospital," he said.

That motion was sent out to the province’s health minister, Gaétan Barrette.

“We got a response but it wasn’t satisfactory,” Perez added.

READ MORE: Quebec ombudsman recommends review of MUHC parking fees

He tried again in June of last year, putting a second motion forward, this time at Montreal City Hall.

He said he received a positive response last fall.

“All these changes demonstrate a recognition by the health minister that something had to be done,” Perez said.

“It’s going to impact positively all visitors of hospitals in the province of Quebec.”

The policy will remain intact for the next four years.