Free parking at hospital?

Photo: CTV

Patients and visitors to a new hospital in Campbell River may not have to pay for parking.

City council voted unanimously to create a new zoning amendment that would prohibit charging for parking at the hospital, scheduled to open later this year.

“Whether you’re in the hospital as a patient, or whether you’re visiting or whether you’re there for day treatments, the last thing you have on your mind is ‘Have I paid my fee?’” Coun. Larry Samson said in an interview with CTV.

Island Health will operate the hospital, and it says pay parking was anticipated.

“Island Health has always been clear that pay parking would be in place at the new Campbell River and Comox Valley hospitals when they open in late 2017,” authorities told CTV.

In Kelowna, patients and visitors are required to pay $1.50 an hour or $6 a day to park at Kelowna General Hospital.