Latest news with #Rezel
Toronto Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Vancouver short-term rental data at stake in ongoing freedom of information dispute
VANCOUVER - Vancouver affordable housing advocate Rohana Rezel says he's keeping up a six-year freedom of information fight with the City of Vancouver and Airbnb over data on short-term rental operators despite it likely being out of date. Rezel filed two requests with the city under the Freedom of Information and the Protection of Privacy Act in 2019, seeking records about Airbnb and other short-term rental operators in Vancouver, including names, addresses and business licence numbers. The city refused and Airbnb opposed the release, leading to years of legal wrangling involving B.C.'s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and the province's Supreme and Appeal Courts. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW An adjudicator with the privacy office ruled in 2021 that the city wasn't allowed to 'refuse access' to business licence numbers and addresses of short-term rentals, but Airbnb and the city went to court claiming the office was obligated to notify 20,000 short-term rental operators to give them a chance to weigh in on the dispute. An adjudicator's decision released Wednesday says the commissioner's office is not required to contact the thousands of owners, finding it 'would not be a fair, timely or efficient administration' of the act, and both the city and company could have raised the issue 'as early as possible but failed to do so.' Rezel says the information he's seeking is likely out of date now, but he plans to continue fighting for access, over the dispute that has evolved from access to housing data to a 'battle for public transparency' and corporate interests versus a citizen's right to access public information. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
08-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver short-term rental data at stake in ongoing freedom of information dispute
VANCOUVER – Vancouver affordable housing advocate Rohana Rezel says he's keeping up a six-year freedom of information fight with the City of Vancouver and Airbnb over data on short-term rental operators despite it likely being out of date. Rezel filed two requests with the city under the Freedom of Information and the Protection of Privacy Act in 2019, seeking records about Airbnb and other short-term rental operators in Vancouver, including names, addresses and business licence numbers. The city refused and Airbnb opposed the release, leading to years of legal wrangling involving B.C.'s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, and the province's Supreme and Appeal Courts. An adjudicator with the privacy office ruled in 2021 that the city wasn't allowed to 'refuse access' to business licence numbers and addresses of short-term rentals, but Airbnb and the city went to court claiming the office was obligated to notify 20,000 short-term rental operators to give them a chance to weigh in on the dispute. An adjudicator's decision released Wednesday says the commissioner's office is not required to contact the thousands of owners, finding it 'would not be a fair, timely or efficient administration' of the act, and both the city and company could have raised the issue 'as early as possible but failed to do so.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Rezel says the information he's seeking is likely out of date now, but he plans to continue fighting for access, over the dispute that has evolved from access to housing data to a 'battle for public transparency' and corporate interests versus a citizen's right to access public information. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Time of India
Easter Monday ferry fiasco: aging vessel breaks down between Sunshine Coast and Vancouver, passengers stranded
Holiday travel plans took a frustrating turn for many on Easter Monday as a key BC Ferries vessel, the Queen of Coquitlam, suffered a mechanical breakdown, leading to disruptions on the busy Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route. The incident, occurring around 1 pm Vancouver time, stranded passengers for approximately three hours and resulted in the cancellation of multiple sailings. The ferry , carrying travellers returning from the Sunshine Coast after the long weekend, experienced a "pitch control issue" just a short distance from the Langdale terminal. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Much Do Private Jet Rentals Cost? (Truly Surprising) Get Info Undo Passenger Rohana Rezel, who was onboard with his family, described the unexpected halt after a timely departure. "They said once the tugboat gets here, it's going to be about another 40 minutes to the terminal," Rezel recounted during the lengthy delay. The prolonged stoppage understandably led to frustration among passengers, many of whom had connecting flights or important appointments. Live Events "Especially, given that it's a long weekend, they should make sure the ferries are in ship shape, so to speak," Rezel added, echoing the sentiments of many inconvenienced travellers. The breakdown puts a spotlight on the aging state of BC Ferries' fleet. The company itself acknowledged that both vessels currently servicing the crucial Langdale-Horseshoe Bay route are nearing 50 years old. "As vessels age, maintenance becomes more frequent and complex – reinforcing the importance of our long-term fleet renewal strategy to improve reliability, add capacity, and better support growing demand," a BC Ferries spokesperson stated. The incident follows a challenging Good Friday at the Horseshoe Bay terminal, where traffic congestion on Highway 1, exacerbated by Whistler-bound traffic and a disabled commercial vehicle, caused approximately 40 vehicles to miss their ferry reservations. West Vancouver police had even urged motorists to avoid the area due to the severe backups. In response to the Queen of Coquitlam's breakdown, BC Ferries reported that the pitch control issue had been repaired by 2:20 p.m. The vessel was set to undergo sea trials with the assistance of a tugboat while awaiting final clearance from Transport Canada to resume service. The company aimed to restart sailings with the 4:20 p.m. departure from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale. To mitigate the immediate impact on stranded passengers, BC Ferries also sourced three 12-passenger water taxis to provide complimentary transportation between the Horseshoe Bay and Langdale terminals. The company also stated that it directly contacted individuals with affected reservations to inform them of the cancellations and alternative arrangements.
