CENTRAL MANITOULIN—There was little debate at the September 28 meeting of Central Manitoulin council when it came to a motion calling on the provincial government to step up and regulate short-term accommodation rentals in the province.
The motion, moved by Councillor Dale Scott and seconded by Councillor Derek Stephens, was in response to a recommendation from the municipality’s property committee where it had been discussed at greater length.
Councillor Stephens pointed out that the challenge with the current situation is that, although the municipality can enact bylaws to deal with the issue, many of the properties in the province being rented out are not ‘mom and pop’ operations, but rather large international companies who advertise globally.
Those companies are buying up lakeshore properties and putting them up on global sites, noted Councillor Stephens who added, “We might not even see them being advertised.” The municipality has few resources to discover who is renting those units out.
The motion, which has a very lengthy preamble, cites the disruptive global technology firms Airbnb and VRBO that have improved access to rental opportunities, particularly vacation and short-term business, and the concentration of ownership taking place amongst owners “with minimal interest or accountability to local communities.”
The motion goes on to note the negative impact short-term rentals have on housing affordability and housing for seasonal workers in tourism or farming communities.
The motion also references other provincial and national jurisdictions that have successfully implemented “comprehensive regulatory frameworks.”
It is in the realm of that comprehensive and consistent regulatory approach that the municipality sees a possibility of relief from the negative impacts of short-term rentals in Ontario.
Councillor Rose Diebolt alleged that such regulation in other provincial jurisdictions has resulted in “a large number of houses being sold” with a resulting calming on prices.
“Maybe it is working, Rose,” said Mayor Richard Stephens.
The motion itself reads: “Council requests the Government of Ontario to establish a regulatory framework requiring digital platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO to: 1. Require owners using the digital platforms to comply with municipal planning and licensing regulations, and 2. Prevent advertising of properties that are not registered with the relevant municipality, and 3. Provide a contact with the platform to ensure ongoing and effective communications for provincial and municipal officials and further that: The Province of Ontario work with municipalities to address situations in which long-term housing stock has been lost to corporate ownership of short-term rental properties.” The motion ends authorizing a copy of the resolution being forwarded to the Premier of Ontario (Honourable Doug Ford), the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Honourable Steve Clarke), local MPPs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and all municipalities in Ontario.
The motion passed without further comment or opposition.
