File photo of the parkade at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. Alberta Health Services is increasing parking fees at facilities across the province on April 1, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Parking fees set to change at Alberta Health Services facilities

Feb 20, 2024 | 3:21 PM

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has announced an upcoming change to its public parking rates.

Effecting April 1, 2024, rates at sites across Alberta will go up in order to align with local markets and reflect inflation costs. The rates will be different per market, but AHS said on average, daily rates will rise by $0.75 in large markets and $0.50 in smaller ones.

Officials said the increase will affect parking at facilities in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, Leduc, St. Albert, and Fort McMurray.

Specific increases per market and facility can seen at the AHS website.

Public parking rates have not been adjusted by AGS in over eight years. Officials said the costs to maintain existing parking structures and building new ones have increased. AHS said parking fees have to be increased to fund these initiatives.

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Cost-saving options provided by AHS include:

• Monthly and weekly parking passes are available to patients and visitors at facilities across Alberta, at rates “well below market value”, according to AHS.
• Compassionate parking passes are available to individuals facing financial hardship on a case-by-case basis. More information is available at the AHS website.
• Volunteer driver programs are available at some AHS facilities. These offer free transportation to and from facilities for treatment. More information is available by emailing AHS.

Officials said that “no health care dollars go toward parking services at AHS facilities”. AHS parking has to be financially self-sustaining, and the organization is responsible for all maintenance costs, as well as the costs for the construction of any new parkades.

Luanne Metz, Alberta NDP Critic for Health, issued the following statement in response:

“In the middle of a health-care crisis, where so many Albertans are struggling to access the care they need, Danielle Smith’s handpicked team running Alberta Health Services is hiking parking fees to make it more expensive to access a hospital or visit a loved one.

“In the midst of an affordability crisis, Danielle Smith’s parking fee hike should be cancelled. Albertans know Danielle Smith always wanted people to pay to see a doctor. Then, in the election, she flip-flopped. Now, on the eve of a budget, she’s hiking parking fees to pay for crumbling health care.

“The Alberta NDP will always stand up to ensure that Albertans can access health care.”