THUNDER BAY – In a move intended to support health workers, city council will consider making its two parkades free to access during the COVID-19 pandemic. The idea has support among some council members, but was unanimously opposed by the city’s Parking Authority.
The proposal was championed by Coun. Aldo Ruberto, who sees it as a way to ease the burden on health workers who continue to use the facilities. Those at the St. Joseph’s hospital on Algoma Street use the north-end parkade, while mental health workers with the organization use the south-end location near city hall, he said.
Development Services manager Mark Smith told councillors the city’s “shoot-from-the-hip guesstimate” was that the change would cost about $25,000 per month in lost revenues. He added that the city’s Parking Authority board had discussed the issue and was unanimously opposed.
While Ruberto pointed out the city had already made on-street metered parking free (for up to two hours), Smith said that was a bid to help struggling local businesses transition to pick-up and delivery service. The board did not see the same need for support amongst those who use the parkades.
“It would not line up a subsidy with those in need of a financial subsidy,” Smith said.
Ruberto maintains the need is real, saying some St. Joseph’s workers are part-time employees struggling to make ends meet.
While the at-large councillor was ready to press ahead with the policy, other councillors wanted to see formal feedback from the Parking Authority before going ahead. Coun. Rebecca Johnson said she didn’t like to see council making decisions on behalf of a committee, and put forward a successful amendment to put the proposal to the board for review.
Others opposed the idea outright. For Coun. Mark Bentz, subsidizing those who still have a job while many are out of work didn’t sit right.
“We would be asking citizens who are not working to subsidize parking in a parkade for citizens that are working, and some are even getting the $4 an hour [pandemic pay from the province],” he said. “I certainly appreciate everything these workers are doing, but they are working.”
The issue will come before council again next Monday with a recommendation from the Parking Authority board.
