Veterans will soon get free year-round parking in Quebec City
Parking currently free Nov. 11, veterans will have to apply for new parking credit
Starting in spring 2025, Canadian Armed Forces members with veterans' licence plates will be eligible for free year-round street parking in Quebec City, a shift from the current policy that offers this benefit only on Remembrance Day, November 11.
Several Quebec cities, including Cowansville, Louiseville, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières, already provide free parking for veterans, as does Vancouver. Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, who had promised to implement this measure, estimates the annual cost to the city will be around $250,000 to $300,000. “It’s not a real cost,” Marchand said, explaining that the initiative is more about forgoing some potential revenue as a gesture of respect. He noted that this is an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by veterans, many of whom missed family milestones while serving.
Veterans have responded positively, with Marchand describing their reaction as “very touching.” Veteran Mario Grenier, a long-time advocate for the policy, expressed his gratitude for the new initiative. Grenier, a Canadian Armed Forces member from 1972 to 1998, founded Vétéran Héro Canada and has spent 12 years pushing for benefits like this.
Veterans will soon be invited to register with Quebec City for a credit on the Copilote+ app, allowing them to apply this credit whenever they pay for parking. Veteran André Lavallée from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 265 in Quebec City welcomed the news but noted that some veterans may face challenges if they are unfamiliar with technology or lack smartphones. He suggested that a simpler system, like requiring only a veterans' licence plate, would make access easier, especially for visitors.
Montreal has a similar program, offering free parking to vehicles with commemorative licence plates featuring a poppy during the week before Remembrance Day. Further details for Quebec City’s new system will be provided to veterans in the winter, with eligibility extending to current Canadian Armed Forces members who meet specific requirements.
