Parking fees imposed at ambulatory care centre

Motorists arriving at Laval’s ambulatory care centre at 1515 Chomedey boulevard this week now have to pay to park their car there.

Laval’s health and social services administration imposed a $4 fee to park for up to three hours there; exceeding the three-hour limit brings the total charge to $8.

“Employees, management and doctors also have to pay,” spokesman Mathieu Vachon told The Suburban, explaining that there is a different rate for employees.

Similar parking fees have already been in effect for some time at the Cité de la santé superhospital.

“The plan is to charge parking fees wherever we can, meaning at installations we own,” he explained. He said that parking fees at other government-sponsored health care locations are on hold, pending consultation.

“We are holding meetings at every facility to get feedback from employees,” Vachon said. “Once that is finished, we anticipate approval by the board sometime in April.”

Vachon added that exceptions to the parking fees will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

“We would have a special rate mainly for low-income individuals or patients who must visit several times a week to undergo treatment,” he said.

He observed that the parking charges are consistent with the health administration’s policy to foster a cleaner environment which, in turn, helps to improve public health.

“We have already installed several recharging stations at the hospital and one at the ambulatory centre and, wherever we are able to install them, we will do so,” he enthused.

“Visitors will be able to charge their cars there with no additional fees,” Vachon continued. “We will pay for the electricity.”