(Image from Northern Bruce Peninsula website.)
Northern Bruce Peninsula will be looking at responses from residents to possible changes to the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).
The responses from residents comes after a 120-day period where people could share their thoughts on the potential MAT expansion through the municipality’s engagement website LetsTalk MNBP.
In May, Northern Bruce Peninsula began moving to expand the MAT, which currently only covers short-term rentals like AirBNBs.
Staff recommended it further include hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and other short-term accommodations (STA).
The MAT is set at a rate of four per cent and currently applies to private STA residential dwellings rented to provide accommodations on a temporary basis of a period of less than 30 days.
The municipality is required to provide half of the net MAT revenue to the Tobermory Chamber of Commerce, which is used to support local tourism.
In January, council heard objections to the potential expansion from past president of the Tobermory Chamber of Commerce and residents.
The responses council will be reviewing this week include questions and concerns ranging from how the revenue from the MAT will be spent, with others saying the expansion should apply for all motels, hotels and other STAs.
One respondent wrote, “Tourism is flourishing – however it is not thriving. The region has not promoted the area in a long long time, and it shows by the hordes of tourists coming up to the region and being disappointed with their experience. They have NO idea about the area, since no one promotes the area. Promotion of tourism isn’t just to bring the hordes and line pockets, it should also be used to educate, inform and instruct the tourists PRIOR to their arrival. THIS is what the MAT tax should be used for – to better the experience of the visitors. How is the MAT tax going to affect the standard of living for locals or turn the area into a “soulless cottage country?”
Council is expected to provide direction to administration regarding amendments to the MAT during its meeting on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.