Quick Peak: Province reviews land use; Airbnb to collect tax

Province reviews land use

The provincial government announced on February 5 that it is seeking opinion and feedback on Agricultural Land Reserve and Agriculture land Commission revitalization.

BC Ministry of Agriculture advisory committee’s consultation paper and online survey opened on February 5. The engagement seeks input on 10 points of discussion that will be used to develop recommendations, including changes to the current legislative, regulatory and administrative framework of the ALR and ALC. Legislative changes are targeted for late 2018 or early 2019.

ALR policy kept the proposed campus for the Sino Bright School project from being built on 30 acres of land next to Brooks Secondary School. In November 2016, the ALC denied an application for agricultural land exemption that would have allowed for development of the campus.

Airbnb to collect tax

Airbnb announced on February 7 that it will collect provincial sales taxes on all short-term rentals conducted through its platform and provide additional revenue to address housing affordability measures.

The measure comes at a time when City of Powell River is considering ways it can regulate short-term rentals.

Currently, no registration, regulation or restrictions apply to Airbnb rentals in Powell River.

Once legislative and regulatory changes are made, Airbnb will begin collecting the eight per cent provincial sales tax and municipal and regional district tax on short-term accommodations provided in BC through its platform.