Saskatchewan NDP Backs Campaign To End Parking Fees Charged At Cancer Centres in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw & Prince Albert
SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan NDP is standing with a terminally ill cancer patient in his crusade to end what he describes as “cruel, mean-spirited" parking fees charged to patients receiving cancer treatment.
Dennis Ogrodnick, longtime community champion and former Prince Albert city councillor, has been told that the cancer in his kidneys will kill him. Still, he presses on with a push to end egregious fees charged to park at cancer centres in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert.
Ogrodnick made a promise to continue fighting these fees to a friend and fellow patient who died of pancreatic cancer this past year.
“I shouldn’t be fighting my government, I should be fighting my disease,” Ogrodnick said. “People with cancer have enough to deal with. This isn’t who we are, this isn’t the Saskatchewan I know and love.”
Ogrodnick said SHA officials have insisted the fees charged for parking are reinvested into healthcare; however, he pointed out the parking is operated by a private company.
“Private companies don’t do things like this for free,” Ogrodnick said. “The Sask. Party are just trying to do everything they can to get me to stop.”
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and Rural & Remote Health Shadow Minister Jared Clarke recently met with Ogrodnick in Prince Albert to discuss his advocacy.
“This is the birthplace of Medicare — and that means everyone receives quality and accessible healthcare,” Clarke said. “We don’t support private companies profiting off cancer patients trying to get the treatment needed to save their lives.
“It’s time we deliver healthcare for every person in Saskatchewan, regardless of where they live or the balance in their bank account. We will put an end to this parking fee scam and do what’s necessary to support patients.”
Ogrodnick began writing every Wednesday to Sask. Party Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill in June — to date, he’s only heard from staff and not the Minister directly.
Ogrodnick said health agency officials have tried to tell him the parking fees are intended to make things fair for all cancer patients in the province; however, more than two dozen communities with cancer services offered through the Community Oncology Program of Saskatchewan continue to offer free parking. It appears the policies for Prince Albert, Moose Jaw and Yorkton were changed in 2024 to begin charging for parking — parking charges have long been a reality for patients receiving treatment in Regina and Saskatoon.
“These parking fees are cruel and mean-spirited,” Ogrodnick said. “If Jeremy Cockrill can’t understand that, he shouldn’t be Health Minister. I’m going to advocate for all cancer patients until I die from this disease.”
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