Canadian-European Parking Agreement for Persons with Disabilities

Resolution 97/4 of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) on the mutual recognition of parking permits

Over the last year, as an associate member of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT), Canada took leadership in the implementation of Resolution 97/4 on the mutual recognition of parking permits for persons with disabilities. According to this agreement, any Canadians with disabilities holding a valid parking permit issued in their jurisdiction may travel in any of the 40 European member countries of the ECMT and use their home parking permit to enjoy the same benefits as citizens from these countries. Likewise, given that all Canadian provinces and territories have agreed to participate in the agreement*, European travellers with disabilities can visit Canada and display their valid national parking permit to use designated parking spaces in Canada.

Travellers with disabilities do not need to make any special arrangements to take advantage of the benefits for which they are eligible under this agreement. The only requirement is to bring one’s own valid parking permit and to display it so that it is visible to law enforcement officers. Since regulations governing the use of designated parking spaces vary from one country to the other, travellers with disabilities are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the regulations of the country or countries they are traveling to at the ECMT Web site: http://www.cemt.org/topics/handicaps/parking.htm

Transport Canada, the provinces and the territories are working in close cooperation to make sure that the agreement is being implemented nationally. Our success in doing so is dependent on the cooperation of law enforcement officers from all Canadian jurisdictions in recognizing valid parking permits used by travellers with disabilities coming from any of the 40 European member countries of the ECMT. Law enforcement officers can find a list of the participating countries and a void electronic copy of their parking permits at the ECMT Web site: http://www.cemt.org/topics/handicaps/parking.htm

For more information on parking permits for persons with disabilities, please consult our web site at:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/accessibility/accessLinks.htm

* Nunavut's confirmation is still pending.  The participation of the Northwest Territories is at the municipal level, and does not involve the territorial Ministry of Transportation.