Saskatoon council to decide on issue of free parking for vets next week

CTV Saskatoon: City eyes veteran free parking cuts Veteran parking issue dates back to February 2013 when council received a letter from the leader of the north Saskatchewan regiment.

SASKATOON - Saskatoon city council will have opposing recommendations to consider when it reviews whether veterans from the Afghanistan war should be allowed free parking.

A report to the city's finance committee says they should not be included in a program that was intended for a limited time when it was announced in 2005 for the Year of the Veteran.

But transportation director Angela Gardiner says the finance committee believes Afghanistan veterans should be included.

Both recommendations are to go to city council for review next Monday.

Gardiner says the original recommendation to exclude the Afghanistan veterans was never intended to discriminate against them.

The program currently covers soldiers who served in the First or Second World wars, the Korean War or on NATO or UN peacekeeping missions.