From 2025, it will be free for veterans to park on the street in Quebec, an election promise that Mayor Bruno Marchand chose to implement and which will cost the City up to $300,000 per year.
“It is a campaign commitment to honor the women and men who have served to ensure that there is less conflict in the world,” Mayor Marchand underlined Tuesday. He said he wanted to “thank and recognize veterans for their immense service [qu’ils rendent] and for the sacrifices they make.
Mandatory commemorative plaque
The measure is aimed exclusively at holders of a commemorative registration plate. It will be permanently installed in the spring of 2025. In the meantime, for Monday November 11, Remembrance Day, “holders of these plates will be able to park free of charge in an on-street parking space controlled by payment terminals and the app Copilot+», Specifies the City in a press release.
This affects around 6,500 veterans in the capital. The City thus deprives itself of revenue of $250,000 to $300,000 per year, said the mayor.
In 2025, veterans will be able to register and receive a credit in the application Copilot+ so that on-street parking is free all year round. Details of how to proceed will be announced later.
Exceptions
Some exceptions will remain chargeable. In particular the streets located in the Champs-de-Bataille park, including rue De Bernières and avenue Taché, which are not under the jurisdiction of the City, parking lots equipped with payment terminals, in particular those located at Esplanade park, in front of Palais station, as well as in the Avenue Maguire area.
The measure was welcomed by the leader of the official opposition. “It’s the least we can do for them,” said Claude Villeneuve, who believes that it is a tribute to the sacrifices that these men and women have made.
