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Councillor’s Corner by Councillor Morgaine Griffin
Municipal Accommodation Tax can offset the costs that tourism places on full-time residents, funding services like beach washrooms. This approach can be especially desirable for locals outside the tourist hot zone (like mine in Ward 2!), who may not like paying taxes to support services they use less frequently. Some municipalities license but don’t tax. Others tax but don’t limit licenses. Some do both, some do neither. Each choice shapes a place’s character. What I hope for most is that we, as neighbours, reflect together on what kind of Port Stanley we want to build. Do we want to prioritize tourism revenue or stable housing? Do we want to encourage flexible property use, or protect long-term neighbourhood dynamics? Your voice matters. Let’s keep speaking with one another — with neighbours and with the Council. The path forward is best when it reflects our shared values.
This past month, our community’s hot topic has been short- term rentals and what path fits Port Stanley. As the Council considers how to regulate them, I want to offer a few thoughts on different approaches and on what they can achieve. Licensing short-term rentals can improve safety: requiring that properties meet fire and building codes and that bylaw enforcement has someone they can reach about complaints. Licenses can be limited or unlimited in number. Some communities cap the number of licenses to protect housing supply and affordability for locals. But every restriction also has a cost: fewer tourists might mean fewer dollars for local shops, restaurants, and events.
16 COMPASS TRAIL | PORT STANLEY, ONTARIO
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