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We have a housing crisis.
We have more people who cannot purchase or rent homes than ever before. This is due to affordability which is related to supply and demand.
We also have more short-term accommodations (STA's) than ever before. There are over 1,000 Airbnb rentals listed in Grey County. There are many other platforms with more. It is very difficult to know the exact number as some are listed on multiple platforms.
Every one of these could be a home for someone. These STA's are commercial businesses. They operate for the purpose of making money like a hotel or resort. In most cases, STAs are not taxed or zoned commercially.
If STA's were not allowed, there would be over 1,000 new homes available for families to live in immediately. If this was province-wide, the numbers of new affordable housing would be staggering.
Prices would come down as these investors would sell these properties or at the very least rent them as long-term rentals (housing). Of course, the owners of these properties will cry that it helps pay their mortgage. In my opinion, it's time to help people with their first home, not help investors on their second and third properties. It is such a simple solution, that would have near-immediate results.
It is time to put a halt to STA's and let the commercial tourism accommodators do what they do best: provide tourist accomodations.
Gary Gringas
Grey Highlands, Ont.
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