City wants to charge you more to park all over Vancouver, especially if you have a luxury car
From overnight parking fees to extra charges for residents with larger, more expensive cars, the City of Vancouver is proposing to tax residents for parking just about everywhere in the city.
Residents would be charged an overnight fee of $45 a year if they park on the street, and visitors would be charged $3 a night.
The proposal is part of the city’s Climate Emergency Action Plan, designed to lower pollution and encourage people to buy electric vehicles, and residents can give their input on the plan online.
In addition to paying the yearly overnight fee, owners of new cars would be taxed more, depending on what they buy. Buyers of luxury cars, large SUVs and pick-ups purchased after 2023, would be charged $1,000 more per year.
Sporty sedans, as well as smaller and efficient SUVs would be taxed $500 extra a year.
Electric vehicles and hybrids would be exempt from the additional fees, but not the yearly $45 overnight fee. Some small economical gas-engine cars might also be exempt.
“So we’re really hoping people going out and looking at purchasing a new vehicle, are looking at low pollution vehicles,” said Paul Storer, the city’s Director of Transportation.
Residents in permit parking areas, would continue to pay that tax, and then any additional new-car fees, if applicable.
Storer said this is not a done deal. Instead, the public is being asked for input online through July 5.
City staff will then collect that information and submit the findings to mayor and council.
“Ultimately it’s council’s decision on whether to move ahead with all of it, or some of it, or none of it at all,” added Storer.
The city estimates it will raise $60 million over three years under the plan. Staff will suggest revenue be used to build more electric charging stations, sidewalks, curb ramps and more comfortable bike lanes. However it is up to council how that money will be spent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.