issue 14// vol 46 news // no. 5 NDP sick of hospital parking fees » Party approves resolution to abolish hospital parking fees Atiba Nelson Staff Reporter ast week, the British Columbia INew Democratic Party held their annual convention in Victoria to vote on resolutions that will form the party’s campaign platform for the next provincial election. Along with resolutions concerning the party’s commitment to investing in child care, advocating for lower internet and mobile phone fees, and changing the voting age to 16, one other resolution made headlines: eliminating hospital parking fees. Hospital parking fees have been a contentious issue in healthcare. A 2012 Canadian Medical Association Journal editorial by former Ottawa Neurologist Dr. Rajendra Kale called for the elimination of hospital parking fees as these fees were akin to a “user fee” for the hospital—which is forbidden under the Canada Health Act. In New Westminster, Royal Columbia Hospital currently charges $4.25 hourly for patients, families, or visitors who park at any of the three lots on hospital property, with a day-rate of $11.25, and a 24-hour rate of $16.25. Eagle Ridge Hospital, based in Port Moody, charges individuals who park on the hospital campus $3.50 per hour, and a daily rate of $9.50, with discounts for evenings and longer parking sessions. Patient advocates state that hospital parking fees create an inherent barrier to the healthcare system and accessing care. Especially for emergency room patients, families of inpatients, and patients continually returning to the hospital for Blue, gold, care, for example patients who receive biweekly dialysis treatment. Parking fees tend to be a boon for hospitals, as many Canadian hospitals are facing increasing expenditures. Between April 2017 and March 2018, Fraser Health Authority—the Health Authority that operates both Royal Columbian and Eagle Ridge hospitals—made over $4 million dollars in hospital parking revenue—of which $1,983,000 was generated by parking and grey fees at Royal Columbian Hospital. To combat the price of parking and the obstacle it creates for patients, Fraser Health does have mechanisms by which patients can apply for financial hardship permits and each request is adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. Also, some cities where hospitals are based are lessening the burden of pricey parking rates. Last year, Surrey City Council made 103 street parking spaces near Surrey >» The Winnipeg Blue Bombers win their first Grey Cup in 29 years. Craig Allan Staff Writer fter 29 years of frustration, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers finally won the Grey Cup, ending the longest championship drought in the Canadian Football League (CFL)—going back to 1990—with a 33 to 12 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 107th Grey Cup in Calgary. On paper, Winnipeg was the underdog in this contest, as Hamilton entered the game with the best record in the league at 15 to 3, while Winnipeg entered with an 11 to 7 record good for third place in the Western Division. Winnipeg’s record meant that they had a tougher road to get to the championship, as they had to take down the defending champion Calgary Stampeders in the Western Semi- Final, and then defeat the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Western Final. Winnipeg stepped up on game day, dominating the game from beginning to end. Leading the charge was Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris was a highly noticeable presence in the game with 134 rushing yards, and one touchdown. His performance garnered him the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Player and the Dick Suderman Trophy for Most Valuable Canadian award for the Winnipeg born player. Harris is the first person to ever win both awards in the same game. However, his presence in the game was controversial, as earlier in the season, he tested positive u c 9 E & 5 oO & 3 uv £ x & > 9° £ 9 o£ oa for a banned substance and was suspended for two games. It was this suspension that procured him from an all but sure nomination for Most Valuable Player in the CFL for the 2019 season, as the Winnipeg press felt they could not nominate him due Photo by Michelle Lim Memorial Hospital—another Fraser Health Authority operated hospital—free of charge, for a limit of two hours to ensure that people don’t hog the spots and that there is adequate turnover. The approval of free parking around BC’s second largest hospital will cost the City of Surrey $360,000 of lost revenue annually. to the suspension. For Hamilton, this was a game to forget. They were only able to muster one touchdown, and turned over the ball eight times including three times in third and one situations. They also lost their best player, Most Outstanding Player winner for the season Brandon Banks, in the third quarter. Hamilton becomes only the third team in CFL history to lose the Grey Cup despite finishing the season with 15 wins. To add to the heartache, Hamilton now takes over the mantle of having the longest standing Grey Cup drought in the league from Winnipeg, as they have not won the Grey Cup since 1999. Winnipeg’s dominance may not end with this year’s contest as their dominance may continue into next year. The Calgary Stampeders, who went to the big game the last three years, were unable to make it past the Western Semi-Final, and the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos may be in a rebuilding mode for next year after firing both their head coaches. In the CFL, rebuilding can often be short due to the small size of the league, but with so many teams in a state of flux going into the next season, the Bombers could be consistently putting the win in Winnipeg for seasons to come.