Extended paid parking times, higher rates affecting late night hospitality employees

Employees are considering quitting their late night jobs after the City of Victoria extended its paid parking hours and upped its rates at the beginning of May.

Darren Ainsley is the owner of Refuge Tap Room in downtown Victoria. On Tuesday, he was reviewing a text message he received a day earlier from one of his employees.

“This is from one of my head bartenders,” said Ainsley.

It’s a message that could be potentially devastating for his business.

“It says, ‘I really don’t see many options because I can’t bike, bus or walk and I’m not going to pay $10-plus every time I close,’” said Ainsley.

The employee is considering quitting after the City of Victoria extended its paid parking hours and upped its rates at the beginning of May.

“They just added two hours to the parking, plus 50 cents an hour, so they’ve basically almost tripled what they are paying for parking,” said the business owner.

The tap room opens at 4 p.m. and closes at midnight, meaning his staff are now paying to park for half of their shift. Some are now reconsidering working downtown.