Ontario faces new push to eliminate hospital parking fees, but policy questions remain [Video]

When Marie Grgic’s mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she said her father had to use his retirement funds to finance costs related to her treatment. 

Cancer costs the average patient nearly $33,000, which includes out-of-pocket expenses and lost income, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. 

“The cost of cancer is parking, it’s the care, it’s the hospital visits, it’s the hospital beds, the medication,” Grgic said. 

“Why are we having to go into our retirement funds, our credit cards, our lines of credit when we have an OHIP card?” 

Grgic is among those supporting a private member’s bill that seeks to eliminate hospital parking fees across Ontario, introduced after Nova Scotia removed them earlier this month. The bill is unlikely to pass. But the impact on hospital funding, enforcement and equity for those without vehicles should be addressed, a policy expert says. 

NDP MPP Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre) tabled …