Open Letter - Reduced Parking Disability Rate

To: Fabrice Labeau, Vice-President, Administration and Finance

Cc: Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor

Denis Mondou, Associate Vice-President, Facilities Management and Ancillary Services

Diana Dutton, Associate Vice-President, Human Resources Francis Desjardins, Director, Labour and Employee Relations

21 November 2024

Montréal, Québec

We the undersigned of the McGill Communities Council are writing to you to request a reconsideration of the adjustment to the reduction in the parking disability rate, as announced by Parking Services on April 2, 2024.

As indicated on the University’s Human Resources website, “McGill University is committed to fostering an equitable, accessible, and inclusive workplace.” This is an honourable commitment and would certainly be reflective of our institution being ranked as one of Canada’s top employers. Unfortunately, much to our disappointment, a recent decision to adjust the reduced parking disability rate prompts significant challenges for our community of staff members with disabilities. The current policy offers a reduction of 50% on parking rates for users with disabilities. As of September 1, 2024, there was a reduction down to 25% on these parking rates and there will be no reduced rate at all as of September 1, 2025.

As outlined in the communication from Parking Services in April 2024, “this change is aimed at offering the same rate to all our parking users”. The implementation of this lateral blanket approach is harmful and contradicts the principle of equity, as per the University’s own Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. The University claims responsibility to promote inclusion and universal accessibility yet the needs of staff members with disabilities are being compromised by this recent decision. This choice is certainly not conducive to eliminating or reducing barriers in the workplace. Proximity parking should not be viewed as a benefit of convenience but rather a necessity for many staff members with disabilities.

We strongly urge you to take positive action and reverse this decision which includes the reimbursement of excess charges, retroactive to September 1, 2024.

Signed,

Judy Dear, MUNASA President

Thomas Chalmers, MUNACA President

Magnus L'Argent, AGSEM President

Harlan Hutt, AMUSE President

Raad Jassim, MCLIU President

Sean Cory, AMURE President

Evan Fox-Decent, AMPL President

Renee Sieber, McGill Community Council

Dymetri Taylor, SSMU President Download Open Letter - Reduced Parking Disability Rate