Martow Questions Government On Accessible Parking Rules

northumberlandview.ca
Feb 19, 2016

This morning, Ontario PC GTA Affairs Critic, Gila Martow (MPP for Thornhill) asked the Minister of Government and Consumer Services to address issues with accessible parking permits in Ontario.

Martow asked the Minister to explain the Government’s plan to alleviate parking permit fraud.

“Thousands of Ontario residents struggle with mobility issues. Many Ontarians face additional burdens when accessible parking is taken up by fraudsters. How will bar codes on new parking permits help to alleviate fraud since the old permits, which are easily counterfeited, are still accepted?” asked Martow.

In 2015, over one thousand counterfeit accessible parking permits were confiscated in Toronto - an increase of more than 28% over the previous year. The government’s response was to tighten security on newly issued permits but not on those already in circulation. Critics are concerned this will do little to solve the problem.

Martow also questioned the Minister on a lack of uniform parking rules across Ontario.

“When designated spots are unavailable, motorists with permits are sometimes allowed to park in no-parking or no-stopping zones. Unfortunately, accessible parking rules vary from municipality to municipality resulting in much confusion,” she said.

“We need to streamline accessible parking regulations so that Ontario residents struggling with mobility challenges don’t need to carry with them a copy of every municipality’s parking regulations,” added Martow.