Legislation restricting short-term rentals in British Columbia passed Thursday (Oct. 26), but not before days of discussion that added new terms such as 害羞草研究所楥ondo King害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所楳illion Dollar Mike害羞草研究所� to B.C.害羞草研究所檚 political vocabulary.
Forty-nine New Democrats and the two BC Greens voted in favour of the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act. Twenty-two members of the BC United Caucus and Conservative Party of B.C. House Leader Bruce Banman voted against it.
The legislation tabled Oct. 15 then received royal assent from Lieutenant-Governor Janet Austin, but key parts of it won害羞草研究所檛 come into effect until May 1, 2024.
The legislation defines short-term rentals as any accommodation provided to the public for less than 90 consecutive days; establishes registries for both hosts and platforms like Airbnb, and an enforcement unit; toughens penalties for violators; and limits short-term rentals to principal residences and one additional unit per property. Resort communities, electoral areas and municipalities under 10,000 not located within 15 kilometres of municipalities above 10,000 are exempt.
Both supporters and critics have called the legislation significant, even sweeping.
Consider the Okanagan, a growing region struggling with housing affordability, but also dependent on tourism.
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas praised the legislation.
害羞草研究所淭hese proposed changes lay a strong foundation for municipalities to build upon through our own bylaws and regulations, so that current and future residents will be able to quickly access more long-term rentals and housing solutions,害羞草研究所� he said in a release. 害羞草研究所�(We) hear regularly from our tourism industry of the challenge their staff have in finding housing and this will go a long way to change that situation, and many similar housing challenges in our community.害羞草研究所�
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Reactions in neighbouring Vernon differ.
Mayor Victor Cumming said the municipality is happy to participate but warned against a 害羞草研究所渟ignificant number害羞草研究所� unintended consequences. Couns. Brian Quiring and Teresa Durning were less diplomatic. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to absolutely hammer tourism,害羞草研究所� Quiring said. Durning added reducing short-term rentals would be 害羞草研究所渄etrimental to tourism for us.害羞草研究所�
These debates also played out in the legislature. BC United unsuccessfully tried to amend the legislation by redefining short-term rentals to any accommodation of less than 30 days as well as create exemptions for medical travel and special events. BC United also proposed property owners be allowed to operate a short-term rental on one additional property, unless than they already offer a secondary suite.
BC United housing critic Karin Kirkpatrick said the legislation as written would hurt students, nurses and others travelling for work such as film industry professionals. She said B.C. also lacks enough hotel rooms for major events like FIFA 2026 World Cup.
BC United also accused Premier David Eby of hypocrisy, saying he benefited from language marketing his former Victoria condo as a short-term rental when he sold it. Kelowna-area MLA Renee Merrifield calling Eby a 害羞草研究所榗ondo king.害羞草研究所� Eby said he never marketed the condo as a short-term rental, noting the condo, which was his residence, was sold to help pay for his wife害羞草研究所檚 studies.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a manufactured scandal,害羞草研究所� Eby said.
New Democrats including Eby, pointed out the next day that BC United害羞草研究所檚 Mike de Jong has bought and sold seven separate properties, pocketing $1.18 million. In 2021 and 2022 alone, de Jong sold five properties, making over $900,000 in profit, according to a release, prompting the moniker 害羞草研究所楳illion Dollar Mike.害羞草研究所�
New Democrat Mable Elmore said it is no wonder BC United under Kevin Falcon opposes the government害羞草研究所檚 agenda.
害羞草研究所淔alcon is against the speculation and vacancy tax, the flipping tax and the new rules for short term rentals,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淥nce again, he害羞草研究所檚 putting investors and speculators who are profiting off the housing market 害羞草研究所� including his own MLAs 害羞草研究所� ahead of British Columbians trying to afford a place to live.害羞草研究所�
When asked why de Jong害羞草研究所檚 actions were less egregious, Falcon said de Jong had owned these units for 20 to 30 years and rented them before selling them on that basis.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said he appreciates that in the 害羞草研究所渉eat of the battle害羞草研究所� people will say different things, but his focus lies on creating more housing, adding it is fair for media to ask questions about who owns what.
-with files from Jennifer Smith
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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