Whitby Mayor Don Mitchell thinks it’s a ‘terrible idea’ to charge visitors for waterfront parking.
“I think that’s a terrible idea with respect to Ajax and Pickering. Because then we start doing the same thing. You’re just adding cost to everyone,” he told Durham Post.
Excerpts from a wide-ranging interview are scheduled to be published tomorrow (Tuesday).
“I just simply don’t agree with that. But it’s their decision. We may react the same, I don’t know,” said Mayor Mitchell, who has announced his retirement after this term.
“I just think it’s an unfortunate way to go. Maybe they’ll reconsider after the election,” he added.
Oshawa says no to paid waterfront parking
In an earlier interview, Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter told Durham Post: “We don’t do it in Oshawa and I don’t support it.
“We’ve got a beautiful waterfront. To start charging people to park is fundamentally something I just don’t support. We can allocate funds necessary to operate a successful waterfront. We can allocate the personnel. It’s really important that this space is available to everyone that comes to visit our great city. I just believe it’s a fundamental right of theirs,” he said.
Ajax and Pickering have both announced paid parking for visitors at their waterfront locations.
Ajax started charging visitors $20 per day visit, while Pickering followed by charging $5 per hour.
Both Ajax and Pickering residents can park for free at designated parking areas by registering their license plates online.
pathetic. In Canada we have all kinds of taxes and some unexplained fees, paid parking is becoming business here. Very hard to find free parkings especially in GTA. Now they are implementing at places where people want to go for a nice time away from all stresses of life for few hours and they are taking away that little freedom from us. shame
I think this reflects poorly on Pickering and Ajax and will discourage those who were regular visitors from coming. So much for all the empty talk of encouraging people to get out and enjoy their surroundings!