Hospital parking fees unfair, distasteful

Re: “Ditch hospital parking fees,” guest editorial, Oct. 20.

Bravo to Collin Kennedy, a cancer patient, for collecting signatures to eliminate parking fees at hospitals. Collecting money on the backs of the sick and vulnerable, on public land, is not only unfair, it is distasteful.

I drove a fragile and sick neighbour to Victoria General Hospital only to discover I was not allowed to park at the door to drop off the individual or pick him up. I was forced to find a parking spot, go to the parking kiosk, return to my vehicle, take the neighbour (who was in a wheelchair) into the hospital and repeat the whole process when the person was released.

Surely, this system is not only unfair, it is a needless hardship on sick people needing medical treatment. I encourage people to sign Kennedy’s petition to put a stop to this disgusting grab for parking fees on the backs of the sick. In this way, perhaps the health authorities or the Victoria General will deal with proper parking for delivering and picking up patients.

Donna Walker Cobble Hill