The city finally approved the enforcement positions and we have the confirmation we needed to ensure fair play. It has been a long and exhausting road to get here but I am relieved that the rules will finally apply to everyone. I will be watching to make sure these new …
March 18, 2025
Final supporters
A Call to Level the Playing Field for All Accommodations
My property provides short-term accommodations for visitors to Stratford. My property is compliant with the rules, regulations, inspections, licensing requirements, etc., that are applicable to my category of accommodations. I collect MAT from my guests, and remit to the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) in a timely manner. In other words, I play by the rules.
It is critical that all accommodations-providers in Stratford be held to the same standards, same obligations, same rules and regulations, and the same costs. Otherwise, the time, money, and resources the City spent in in creating/re-writing the by-laws was a waste. Broad-based compliance should be the goal for all of us; that is currently not the case, and will never be accomplished without sufficient enforcement resources in the by-law department.
I therefore urge the City’s leadership to:
- approve the by-law enforcement positions that have been proposed;
- hire qualified individuals into those roles with urgency;
- deploy those resources expeditiously and with an elevated sense of purpose to:
- assist unapproved properties in becoming compliant; OR,
- impose the applicable penalties outlined in the by-laws.
If the City fails to enforce its own by-laws equally and consistently, those of us who are playing by the rules will need to re-evaluate our approach to MAT collection and remittance, licensing, and other aspects of our business, until the inequities have been corrected.
Additional Background Information
In 2022, the City of Stratford passed by-law 130-2022, and amended 108-2004 in order to update the rules and regulations applicable to various formats of short-term accommodations (B&Bs, Inns, STR, etc.). Around the same time, the City passed by-law 93-2022, which implemented the Municipal Accommodation Tax, despite the struggles of the accommodation sector that was still reeling from the aftermath of COVID.
Despite the introduction/amendments to the applicable by-laws, there remain numerous short-term accommodation venues that are not compliant with the regulation, are not inspected, are not licensed, and are not collecting, reporting, or remitting MAT. This does not begin to touch on the risk of injury or worse occurring in an un-inspected accommodation. The sad events that occurred in Montreal should be a warning to Stratford.
The City’s explanation for this intolerable situation is the lack of by-law enforcement personnel. Yet, here we are, with enforcement positions being proposed, and our leaders are considering rejecting the idea. Promises were made during the by-law process and the introduction of MAT that some of the funds would be used for enforcement. The City is leaving significant sums of money “on the table.” More important, the burden of MAT, licensing fees, and the hassle of inspections is being unfairly and inequitably applied.
Updates
February 6, 2025
Seeing this level of support confirms that I am not the only one exhausted by the lack of fairness in our town. This momentum proves that people are tired of rules being treated as optional suggestions. I am exhausted by the slow pace of change but this response keeps me moving forward.
18 Comments
Long time owners of B and B (36years) we have done many renovations to stay compliant with by laws. We hold the city to its promise to uphold its own bylaws.
The City of Stratford needs to enforce their short-term accommodation by-laws. If they neglect to do so and an unlicensed, non-compliant property encounters a horrific tragedy like what occurred in Montreal, the city exposes itself to liability. This could potentially cost the city and the residents millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.
For all the hassle that was inflicted upon those of us complying with the rules, the focus and point of the new by laws was to make sure ALL those providing accommodations in Stratford safe. If no effort to correct or enforcement is in effect, lots of time and tax payers dollars were wasted.
I am signing this petition to help bring this issue to the forefront and wholeheartedly support Innkeepers Group
By-laws have to be enforced! I’m tired of the comment that by-laws will be enforced on a complaint basis.
We who are compliant insist that those who are not, should be held accountable, in keeping with the City of Stratford's by-laws
The licenced B&Bs have benn compliant over the years.Inspect those who have made changes only and devote the remaining bylaw officer enforcement time to upholding the non-compliant ones for licensing and safety measures.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The city finally approved the enforcement positions and we have the confirmation we needed to ensure fair play. It has been a long and exhausting road to get here but I am relieved that the rules will finally apply to everyone. I will be watching to make sure these new …
March 18, 2025
Final supporters
A Call to Level the Playing Field for All Accommodations
My property provides short-term accommodations for visitors to Stratford. My property is compliant with the rules, regulations, inspections, licensing requirements, etc., that are applicable to my category of accommodations. I collect MAT from my guests, and remit to the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) in a timely manner. In other words, I play by the rules.
It is critical that all accommodations-providers in Stratford be held to the same standards, same obligations, same rules and regulations, and the same costs. Otherwise, the time, money, and resources the City spent in in creating/re-writing the by-laws was a waste. Broad-based compliance should be the goal for all of us; that is currently not the case, and will never be accomplished without sufficient enforcement resources in the by-law department.
I therefore urge the City’s leadership to:
- approve the by-law enforcement positions that have been proposed;
- hire qualified individuals into those roles with urgency;
- deploy those resources expeditiously and with an elevated sense of purpose to:
- assist unapproved properties in becoming compliant; OR,
- impose the applicable penalties outlined in the by-laws.
If the City fails to enforce its own by-laws equally and consistently, those of us who are playing by the rules will need to re-evaluate our approach to MAT collection and remittance, licensing, and other aspects of our business, until the inequities have been corrected.
Additional Background Information
In 2022, the City of Stratford passed by-law 130-2022, and amended 108-2004 in order to update the rules and regulations applicable to various formats of short-term accommodations (B&Bs, Inns, STR, etc.). Around the same time, the City passed by-law 93-2022, which implemented the Municipal Accommodation Tax, despite the struggles of the accommodation sector that was still reeling from the aftermath of COVID.
Despite the introduction/amendments to the applicable by-laws, there remain numerous short-term accommodation venues that are not compliant with the regulation, are not inspected, are not licensed, and are not collecting, reporting, or remitting MAT. This does not begin to touch on the risk of injury or worse occurring in an un-inspected accommodation. The sad events that occurred in Montreal should be a warning to Stratford.
The City’s explanation for this intolerable situation is the lack of by-law enforcement personnel. Yet, here we are, with enforcement positions being proposed, and our leaders are considering rejecting the idea. Promises were made during the by-law process and the introduction of MAT that some of the funds would be used for enforcement. The City is leaving significant sums of money “on the table.” More important, the burden of MAT, licensing fees, and the hassle of inspections is being unfairly and inequitably applied.
Updates
February 6, 2025
Seeing this level of support confirms that I am not the only one exhausted by the lack of fairness in our town. This momentum proves that people are tired of rules being treated as optional suggestions. I am exhausted by the slow pace of change but this response keeps me moving forward.
18 Comments
Stratford is host to roughly 1.7 million visitors a year. With 46% seeking overnight accommodations, guest safety should be a priority. Without any regulation of the by-laws developed to protect visitor safety, the risk and liability of a tragic event is immense. Not only will a nergative event jeopardize the $12.M accommodation sector but the individual tax payers within in our town. What is the point of regulation if the the intention is to defer enforcement? Please support the accommodation by-laws!
Long time owners of B and B (36years) we have done many renovations to stay compliant with by laws. We hold the city to its promise to uphold its own bylaws.
The City of Stratford needs to enforce their short-term accommodation by-laws. If they neglect to do so and an unlicensed, non-compliant property encounters a horrific tragedy like what occurred in Montreal, the city exposes itself to liability. This could potentially cost the city and the residents millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.
For all the hassle that was inflicted upon those of us complying with the rules, the focus and point of the new by laws was to make sure ALL those providing accommodations in Stratford safe. If no effort to correct or enforcement is in effect, lots of time and tax payers dollars were wasted.
I am signing this petition to help bring this issue to the forefront and wholeheartedly support Innkeepers Group
By-laws have to be enforced! I’m tired of the comment that by-laws will be enforced on a complaint basis.
We who are compliant insist that those who are not, should be held accountable, in keeping with the City of Stratford's by-laws
The licenced B&Bs have benn compliant over the years.Inspect those who have made changes only and devote the remaining bylaw officer enforcement time to upholding the non-compliant ones for licensing and safety measures.
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Stratford is host to roughly 1.7 million visitors a year. With 46% seeking overnight accommodations, guest safety should be a priority. Without any regulation of the by-laws developed to protect visitor safety, the risk and liability of a tragic event is immense. Not only will a nergative event jeopardize the $12.M accommodation sector but the individual tax payers within in our town. What is the point of regulation if the the intention is to defer enforcement? Please support the accommodation by-laws!