Balancing hospital budgets on the backs of frontline healthcare workers.
A heartfelt letter from a frontline nurse.
Dear Ontario Health Coalition,
I am writing as a frontline nurse at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) and a concerned healthcare worker seeking your support regarding significant increases to employee parking fees at our hospital.
WRHN recently announced a phased increase to staff parking rates over the next three years. I currently pay $35 biweekly for on-site parking. Effective August 7, 2026, my parking fee will increase by 55.3% to $54.36 biweekly. By 2028, it will rise to $94.88 biweekly, approximately $190 per month or nearly $2,500 annually simply to park at my workplace—a 171% increase from what I pay today.
The hospital has stated these increases are necessary to eliminate a parking program deficit and make parking operations cost-neutral. While I understand that hospitals face financial pressures, I do not believe frontline healthcare workers should bear the burden of balancing hospital budgets through mandatory workplace parking fees.
Healthcare workers do not have the option of working remotely. We provide care around the clock, including nights, weekends, and holidays, often when public transit is unavailable or impractical. Parking is not a luxury—it is an essential part of getting to work safely and reliably.
Many employees participated in engagement sessions and provided thoughtful feedback, hoping the hospital would consider alternatives or mitigate the impact on staff. Unfortunately, despite widespread concern, we have been informed that the parking increases will proceed as planned. Many staff members feel their concerns were acknowledged but ultimately dismissed.
At a time when Ontario continues to struggle with recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, policies like this send the wrong message. Increasing the cost of coming to work effectively reduces employees’ take-home pay and risks making hospital employment less attractive for both current and prospective staff. This is not just a workforce issue—it is a patient care issue.
I believe this is part of a broader provincial problem. Healthcare workers across Ontario should not be expected to pay thousands of dollars each year simply to access their workplace. If hospitals are underfunded, the solution should not be to pass those costs on to the very people delivering patient care.
I respectfully ask the Ontario Health Coalition to consider raising awareness of this issue and advocating for a provincial solution that protects healthcare workers from excessive workplace parking costs. I would welcome the opportunity to share additional information or discuss the impact these increases are having on staff at WRHN.
Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of Ontario’s public healthcare system and those who work within it.
Sincerely,
Frontline Nurse, Waterloo Regional Health Network
