Province denies NDP claims of outsourcing hospital parking to U.S. company

The parking lot for Moose Jaw's Dr. F.H Wigmore Hospital. (Jacob Carr/CTV News)

The Government of Saskatchewan says NDP claims of the province outsourcing parking services at hospitals to a U.S. company are inaccurate.

During an event at Moose Jaw’s Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital on Wednesday, the NDP Opposition called on the province to cancel its contract with “ParkChirp” a parking services company based out of Chicago.

“It should be focused on family, about making sure the family and the individual gets the care they need at the hospital,” the party said in a statement. “So that’s why we’re calling on the government to end this contract, make sure that when we are using Saskatchewan taxpayer money, that is supporting Saskatchewan companies and Saskatchewan people.”

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However, in a response to CTV News Thursday morning, the Ministry of Health said it conducts no business with ParkChirp.

“Platinum Parking Canada is the provincial parking operator for the SHA, and oversees all the SHA’s paid parking locations,” the ministry said in a statement.

According to the province, Platinum Parking Canada is headquartered in Winnipeg – with offices in Regina and Saskatoon. The company employees more than 40 staff throughout its 25 locations across the province.

“Platinum Parking Canada partners with ParkMobile, owned by Easy Park Group, which was founded and is based in Sweden,” the ministry added.

According to Platinum Parking Canada’s website, the company is owned and operated by Robbins Parking, a Canadian company founded on Victoria Island in the 1960’s.

Robbins Parking previously owned Platinum Parking, a separate entity founded in Dallas in 2000, but sold it in August of 2024.

The province says that parking fee revenue is used to offset the cost of maintaining parking infrastructure and operations so, “health care dollars can be directed to delivering high-quality health care to patients and residents.”

The SHA noted that operating costs include snow removal, electrical use, repairing potholes, line painting and winter traction.

Total revenue from parking services for the 2024-25 fiscal year totaled $21 million - offsetting $9 million in costs, according to the SHA.

The organization added that it retains all parking revenue, with Platinum Parking Canada’s profits stemming from “specific site management fees” and 10 per cent of enforcement revenue - which according to the SHA, totaled $218,300 for 2024.

-With files from Jacob Carr and Wayne Mantyka.