Petition Launched to Oppose AirBnB Bylaw
In just two days, petition has over 200 supporters
West Nipissing residents opposed to the new Short-Term Rental (STR) bylaw have started a petition.
Led by one AirBnB operator, Roch Pellerin, the petition is urging councillors to either vote against the proposed new Bylaw or delay voting on it until more public consultations can occur.
The petition states that the proposed bylaw is overly restrictive and costly, making licencing for a STR very difficult and unaffordable for most to attain. It goes on to share that only 57 residents were able to formally offer their opinion on the matter. When the municipality conducted an online survey last year, it was not widely advertised and a limited number of people knew about it. `
Speaking with the petition organizer, he told me that many of the early supporters don’t even operate AirBnBs. They are likely signing in support of the petition’s last message: That West Nipissing thrives on a vibrant tourism industry.
Pellerin is encouraging anyone in West Nipissing or anyone who is a taxpayer in West Nipissing to sign or start their own signature sheet. With his permission, a PDF copy of the petition is posted below. It can be printed and emailed back to Roch at Collinscamp@hotmail.com.
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Signed & emailed to Roch!! This entire idea is absolutely ridiculous & very obviously a personal vendetta of the Mayor. A Mayor should encourage tourism in their town. She should be ashamed of herself....
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