After much debate over which veterans should be included, a new one-year pilot project to give veterans free parking in Hamilton city lots will start this week.

Vehicles with Ontario veteran licence plates can start parking for free on Oct. 1. The new rule applies to municipal parking lots and meters with the use of a special city-issued permit.

Under the new program, veterans who currently park for free will get a permit in the mail. Anyone who isn't can apply for the permit through Hamilton municipal parking system offices at 80 Main St. W.

The city of Hamilton also offers all vehicles with veteran licence plates free parking on Remembrance Day.

City council approved the new pilot program in July after some debate over which veterans should park for free. Some suggested that it should only apply to veterans over 60, or people who had seen active combat. In the end, council voted to include everyone with a veteran licence plate.

The program will cost an estimated $715,000 and impact as many as 11,000 people in Hamilton.

For more details, visit hamilton.ca/parking or call 905-540-6000 or email parking@hamilton.ca.