Council Adopts AirBnB Bylaw

Operators now have 60 days to apply for $750 licence.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article mistakenly stated that Councilor Roch St-Louis voted in favour of the motion however he was not present at yesterday’s meeting. The bylaw passed with a vote of 4 to 3.

After receiving over 850 signatures on a petition asking for more public consultation on the proposed AirBnB bylaw, council ignored the public’s pleas.

Councillors moved quickly yesterday to pass the controversial new bylaw that will require all existing operators to register with the city within 60 days.

3.1.2.f of the new STR bylaw states that existing operators will have 60 days to apply for a licence.

Councillor Jerome Courchesne, Fern Pellerin and Anne Tessier all voiced concerns that this bylaw was being rushed. Courchesne noted that many operators are already booked for the summer and may now be liable for fees if they do not qualify for a licence. He proposed deferring the bylaw until September.

Councillor Pellerin noted that the public consultation may not have presented an accurate picture of the support or opposition to an STR bylaw. He pointed to the petition with over 850 signatures as proof that the short online survey may not be reflective of the public sentiment.

Courchesne, Pellerin and Tessier were all in agreement that more public consultation was needed on the subject.

But that did not deter Deputy Mayor Jamie Restoule who said from his perspective
”he didn’t think there was a need for more public consultation.”

Councillor Dan Gagne agreed with Restoule that the 57 respondents to an online survey in 2023 was plenty of public feedback. He added that the bylaw is not “set in stone” saying that it can be reconsidered later.

Councillor Rivard Declares Conflict of Interest (or simply avoids taking a position on a controversial topic)

Councillor Kris Rivard declared a conflict of interest and abstained from all discussion and refused to even vote on the matter. His rationale was that his employer (the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority) will be affected by the bylaw which puts him in a conflict. Rivard is not in a management position, shareholder or executive with the Conservation Authority and it is not clear how his employment could prevent him from having a fair opinion on this matter.

Speaking to others on this topic it is clear that this was simply a way to avoid taking a position on a controversial subject for this aspiring politician. Based on his logic, this councillor should likely abstain from discussion on any and all new building developments in the future as well.

Recorded Vote

Councillor Courchesne requested a recorded vote on the matter. Along with the mayor, Restoule and Gagne, the only other councillor who voted to approve the new bylaw was Katelyn Nicol. The Field councillor once again did not speak more than a few seconds during the entire meeting but was reliably supportive of the mayor to help get this bylaw passed 4 to 3.

Courchesne, Pellerin and Tessier voted against.

After most of council completely disregarded the nearly 1,000 petition supporters and those in attendance, some in the crowd voiced their shock and displeasure. The mayor brushed them off quite disrespectfully. One attendee asks why he was never given an opportunity to address council and the mayor says the item is no longer up for debate.

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