(Ki’jupuk) Todd Veinotte & Peggy Cameron discuss the Nova Scotia’s Department of Health pitch to Parks Canada to pave more green space on the Halifax Citadel’s Garrison Grounds for healthcare parking. Already ~30% of the Common is parking/parkades, mostly hospital. Have a listen, learn more about better options. Then p
lease write to Parks Canada to say “no way!” April 24th deadline: halifax@pc.gc.ca
FHC has been working for better transportations options since 2007. (See Tag)
Below are some concerns to mention in your email
- Only 20% of the Halifax Common’s 240 acres remains as public open space.
- 25% – 30% of the Halifax Common is already parking or parkades, mostly for hospitals
- Citizen’s want green space protected: 3,000 citizens opposed the Department of Health’s new 8-storey parkade on the NS Museum of Natural History’s lawn.
- HRM citizens and guests enjoy the Garrison Grounds as a historic place to gather, play, recreate, hear music, connect, walk, relax
- Paving for private vehicles is not a transportation, health or climate solution.
- The feds, province, city need to support better transportation options: public & active transportation; bike, ride & car share; park & ride.
- In 2019 FHC’s Peter Zimmer recommended the province build a compact, modular underground robotic parkade that would fit on hospital grounds for hospital users/workers. This is still an option.
- Vehicles have a negative impact on health & safety:- pollution, GHGs, collisions, noise, congestion etc.
- Over 30% of Canada’s GHGs come from transportation-expanding capacity for storing private vehicles is not a solution.
- Asphalt is a toxic fossil fuel, as is run-off that includes vehicle fluids and tire particles. It also increases heat island effect and worsens flooding in extreme weather.
- Canada is in a political turmoil over the carbon tax. DoE should not support expansion of car parking at a time when countries around the world are working to improve better options that reduce emissions and have societal not private person benefits.
