Winnipeg council hearing on zoning changes could last days: councillor
Winnipeg city councillors are preparing for what could be a marathon meeting next Monday, where they'll discuss major zoning changes being proposed as part of an agreement to get millions of dollars in housing funding from the federal government.
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CBC
39 minutes ago
- CBC
Airbnb says thousands of B.C. reservations at risk, blames 'rushed' rental rules
Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb said Friday that "thousands" of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of cancellation, accusing the province of rushing out regulations as it cracked down on the industry. Alex Howell, Airbnb's Canadian policy lead, said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the new rules, which require short-term rental hosts to confirm their listings are legal, have already led to some bookings being cancelled. The government has said platforms such as Airbnb can't post B.C. listings without confirming they are registered with the province. Howell said many hosts whose properties qualify can't register due to glitches and other problems with the new system. "Typically, we would have worked with a government for six months to do live testing, to make sure that things are working the way they should," Howell said. "And unfortunately in this situation, B.C. really just rushed into launching the system that hadn't been fully tested, and that's what's brought us to this situation." The province said Friday that dozens of other short-term rental platforms serving B.C. have managed to support their hosts in registering with the government. But Howell said that property owners have reported that typos and formatting errors have prevented them from registering with the province, despite meeting all the legal criteria for hosting short-term rentals. "The government's short-term rental system simply isn't ready," Howell said in a statement to CBC News. "We warned that rushing this rollout would lead to serious consequences, and now British Columbians are paying the price." Summer is tourist season The province had said that short-term rentals are being restricted to principal residences, a secondary suite or a structure such as a laneway house on the property, and the policy is meant to open up more units in B.C.'s rental housing market. Howell said the timing of B.C.'s latest rules on short-term rentals is especially impactful, just ahead of the busy summer tourist season. "Thousands of reservations across the province are now at risk," she said. "These are registered, compliant hosts that are failing validation protocols through no fault of their own. "And this impacts … thousands of reservations across the province, at least 50 per cent of which are domestic travellers who are following their own government's advice to support local and travel within Canada this year." Howell said instead of waiting until the June 23 deadline — when bookings on unregistered B.C. properties would be cancelled — Airbnb is proactively contacting affected hosts and guests to offer penalty-free cancellations. Airbnb can 'find solutions' In a statement, B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the province is confident that "Airbnb will find solutions to their challenges with getting listings verified ahead of the June 23 deadline." "We hope that Airbnb will choose to support their hosts in verifying their listings, instead of cancelling their bookings," Kahlon said. "This is new ground for B.C., and we are working through ServiceBC, our short-term rental branch, and the platforms themselves to help hosts comply with the requirements." The ministry also noted that there are 65 short-term rental platforms operating in B.C., and other platforms have been successful in supporting their hosts to get registered. In a separate statement, the Opposition B.C. Conservatives criticized the NDP's short-term rental policies, with Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird saying the regulations run counter to the province's efforts to promote local travel. "How do you promote staycations while sabotaging the short-term rental market that makes them possible in small towns?" Bird said in the statement. "The Premier [David Eby] says 'travel within B.C.', and then his government kneecaps our ability to welcome those travellers."
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Streets Alive Mission set out to raise $70,000 with inaugural Giving Day
Streets Alive Mission set out to raise $70,000 in just one day on Friday in support of its programs and services. Streets Alive Mission set out to raise $70,000 in just one day on Friday in support of its programs and services. Throughout the day, staff have been at the Christian Credit Union along Mayor Magrath Drive South collecting donations. This is the first year the mission has hosted a Giving Day. Last year, Streets Alive served more than 2,000 people, from providing basic needs to life recovery programming. Two anonymous donors have come forward to match dollars raised. Staff say without the community support, the mission wouldn't be able to operate. 'Each dollar really impacts a life. It really changes a life,' said Jennifer Lepko, Streets Alive Mission chief development officer. 'Streets Alive helps people from the streets and gets them up into recovery, changing their lives. 'It's really a life recovery program and it gets them back into community and fleeing from some of the addiction issues and the poverty that they experience.' Streets Alive Mission set out to raise $70,000 in just one day on Friday in support of its programs and services. Streets Alive Mission set out to raise $70,000 in just one day on Friday in support of its programs and services. While staff hoped to raise $70,000 on Friday, they say donations of time, items and money are kindly accepted year-round. Streets Alive's next event is the fourth annual Wing Ding wing-eating contest. The event, sponsored by Save-On-Foods, will take place June 28 from noon to 5 p.m., at the Nicholas Sheran Park picnic shelter in West Lethbridge. The wing-eating contest itself is at will be at 2 p.m. 'How many wings can YOU eat in 60 seconds? Challenge yourself and raise funds for Streets Alive Mission,' Streets Alive says on its website.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Protester gets on Ford Fest stage in Etobicoke at annual Ontario PC event
A protester made it onto the stage at a Ford Fest event in Etobicoke organized by the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party on Friday. Ontario Premier Doug Ford was speaking in Centennial Park, when the protester confronted him and was quickly ushered off the stage. The annual event this year was billed as a celebration of the party's third straight majority provincial government win. In February, Ford led the party to victory in a snap winter election fought amid the spectre of U.S. tariffs. The protester shouted about Grassy Narrows as they were pulled off stage. Ford accused the protester of spray painting "everything" and putting up stickers "all over the place" on Thursday night. "That's not what the people want. We live in a peaceful province and we're going to continue to build... That's what we're going to do," Ford told the crowd. Grassy Narrows First Nation, a northwestern Ontario community, has faced decades of mercury contamination. The poisoning has impacted an estimated 90 per cent of the population of Grassy Narrows, also known as Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek. Earlier, Ford thanked Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium after his late brother and former Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The stadium, renamed in May, is now called Rob Ford Stadium. "It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I'll be forever, forever grateful. So when you see her, just thank her. She is really amazing," Ford said. The premier also highlighted his government's work on infrastructure, citing progress on transit lines, the construction of two new Catholic schools and a new community centre in Etobicoke
