Free parking to be offered at Nova Scotia’s hospitals starting Thursday

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

The province says patients, health care workers and other visitors will no longer have to pay for parking at Nova Scotia’s hospitals as of May 1.

This comes after Premier Tim Houston made an election promise back in November that if re-elected, he would eliminate parking fees at health care facilities.

“We committed to eliminating fees for everyone parking at a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Premier Tim Houston. “I know people have been eager to see this change. Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to worry about parking fees when they’re sick and seeking healthcare or caring for our loved ones.”

According to the province, a ticket validation system will be implemented at some sites to ensure parking is used by patients, visitors, healthcare workers and staff. Others who park there will have to pay to park.

The government said the total cost of free parking at health care facilities is roughly $19 million annually.

Nova Scotia Health has 97 parking lots across the province with 39 that charge for parking.