ANTIGONISH — Patients, visitors and staff are welcoming the provincial government’s recent decision to scrap parking fees at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, effective May 1. But the change also marks the end of a longstanding fund – a reliable source of revenue used to purchase hospital equipment – for the Antigonish facility that also serves much of Guysborough County and northeastern Nova Scotia, says a hospital official.
The move to eliminate parking fees at all Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health facilities – expected to cost the government approximately $19 million a year – fulfilled a commitment included in the 2025–26 provincial budget.
“I think staff are really happy that it’s been recognized, and same as the patients,” said Sarah O’Brien, site director at St. Martha’s, in an interview with The Journal last week. “The decision to eliminate fees for anyone parking across Nova Scotia Health is to recognize that going to a hospital or care center is already a stressful experience, whether it’s an appointment or to visit someone, so removing any kind of financial burden is another way to alleviate stress.”
At the same time, she noted, the change eliminates a main source of equipment funding previously managed through the St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation. “Overall, the parking lot fund, as well as the foundation as a whole, has a huge impact on our facility and pays for equipment needs for all departments across the site,” O’Brien said.
Under a 10-year agreement with the former district health authority signed in 2014, the fund generated approximately $200,000 annually. According to the foundation’s website, “Every time you put money in a parking metre or pay your $2 parking fee at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital, your money stays in your community and supports the purchase of hospital equipment for St. Martha’s.” Patients and families could also pay long-term rates – $10 per week or $30 per month.
Noting that the change in parking policy had been under discussion for the better part of a year, O’Brien said, “The provincial government is committed that any shortfalls through the change of free parking will be covered through them, and they’ll continue to collaborate with the foundation to make sure any impacts are addressed.”
While the government has pledged to cover revenue losses for hospital foundations across the province that depended on parking fees, the specifics of how that support will be administered – and how much flexibility local hospitals will have in spending those funds – are still unclear.
Meanwhile, O’Brien confirmed that St. Martha’s will maintain dedicated spaces in the main front parking lot for patients and visitors, asking staff to continue using alternate lots when possible. “We do still aim to have accessible parking in the main front parking lot reserved primarily for patients and visitors and ensuring that staff continue to be respectful of that parking lot,” she said.
The provincial government has also noted that a ticket validation system will be implemented at some hospitals to ensure that free parking is used appropriately by patients, visitors and staff – not by those using hospital lots for unrelated purposes. The exact approach may vary by facility, depending on infrastructure and demand.
“We ask for patients’ cooperation, just like when any hospital implements a new change,” O’Brien said. “There’s always some pressures when working through a change, as we continue to evaluate our parking strategies and needs.”
