As of Thursday, May 1st, patients, healthcare workers, and visitors to Nova Scotia’s hospitals and healthcare centres will no longer need to pay for on-site parking. This is a significant step taken by our PC government that puts patients first by making healthcare more accessible.
“We committed to eliminating fees for everyone parking at a Nova Scotia Health or IWK Health facility, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Premier Tim Houston. “I know people have been eager to see this change. Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to worry about parking fees when they’re sick and seeking healthcare or caring for our loved ones.”
To help manage parking availability, some sites will introduce a ticket validation system to ensure spaces are reserved for patients, staff, and legitimate visitors. Others may adopt different approaches based on infrastructure and capacity needs, with implementation details tailored to each facility.
The free parking initiative, included in the 2025-26 provincial budget, is expected to cost approximately $19 million annually. The investment underscores our PC government’s commitment to making life more affordable and removing the cost from Nova Scotians accessing healthcare services while supporting frontline workers across the province.