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.
C
Corinne Montgomery
1 year ago
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.
C
Christie Lewis
1 year ago
I am signing this petition to help bring this issue to the forefront and wholeheartedly support Innkeepers Group
L
Laura Carter
1 year ago
By-laws have to be enforced! I’m tired of the comment that by-laws will be enforced on a complaint basis.
M
Marilyn Price
1 year ago
We who are compliant insist that those who are not, should be held accountable, in keeping with the City of Stratford's by-laws
J
Jack McDonald
1 year ago
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.
K
Karen Zamaria
1 year ago
We have been running our licensed Bed&Breakfast, welcoming travellers from around the globe since 1987, and have seen so many changes over the years since in by laws, licensing, inspections etc. and so many unlicensed and uninspected establishments coming in to offer short term accommodations in the short term and flipping properties and moving on. Even the head of Destination Stratford had his own Bed & Breakfast, The Court House, for a short period and sold as licensing became a reality and moved on. All of us who are licensed and inspected should have protection and respect from the city. If there is not enough in the budget coffers to hire more by law officers, than skip the inspections for 1, 2, 3 , 4 or 5 years for all of us who have had them regularly and have complied to all the rules and regulations. Why do we need a yearly by law inspection unless we have made structural changes to our properties? The focus needs to be on making all establishments safe for all out of town visitors and to have a level playing field for all those who are established and who have complied and paid their dues over the years. Otherwise the alternative is to scrap all inspections and the MAT tax. Of course that would leave the that the city vulnerable to legal action in the case of a tragedy as we saw in Montreal. Reflext upon the possible consequences....
F
Fuyang Peng
1 year ago
It's not fair for my properties and all other properties who is compliant with the rules, regulations, inspections, licensing requirements, etc.
D
Dave Russell
1 year ago
Featured
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.
S
Shawna MacNeil
1 year ago
Featured
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!
M
Mike Reneau
1 year ago
This is the right course of action. All stakeholders must take this seriously and provide a level playing field for all or we are forced to address it. Leaving money on the table is absurd in this time of strapped municipal budgets. Cutting shows a lack of vision and responsibility
S
Sue Wakelin
1 year ago
We play by the rules and want the City to ensure everyone else does as well.
T
Tim Forster
1 year ago
Absolutely!
R
RL Read
1 year ago
City has promised an "even playing field" for years. Time to actually implement a plan to make it so. Eliminating agency/enforcement roles whereby this can become a reality is detrimental to enforcement, and in fact, takes us all in the opposite direction. Help us understand then, "Why should any of us who are legally compliant; who pay licensing and collect MAT fees, continue to do so, when City is not enforcing their own bylaw on ALL who are illegally operating under the radar?" This lop-sided paradigm has been going on far too long. It's high time for City to live up to unkept promises for both the sake of integrity ("even playing field"), but also for the sake of City coffers!
B
Bruce Whitaker
1 year ago
We need to protect our City against the potential liabilities should such unlicensed properties have significant issues. Just refer to what has happened in Montreal with a fire at an Airbnb in 2023.
Many of victims were staying at an illegal Airbnb at the building on Place d'Youville. In total, 22 people were inside at the time of the fire. Apart from the seven who died, nine people were injured, and six emerged unhurt.
P
Pamela Mountain
1 year ago
The City of Stratford needs to level the playing field for accommodations, who play an important role in Stratford’s tourism sector.
V
Victoria and Murray Sanderson
1 year ago
It's time the City declared an even and fair playing field for all. We who are compliant insist that those who are not, should be held accountable.
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.
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.
We have been running our licensed Bed&Breakfast, welcoming travellers from around the globe since 1987, and have seen so many changes over the years since in by laws, licensing, inspections etc. and so many unlicensed and uninspected establishments coming in to offer short term accommodations in the short term and flipping properties and moving on. Even the head of Destination Stratford had his own Bed & Breakfast, The Court House, for a short period and sold as licensing became a reality and moved on. All of us who are licensed and inspected should have protection and respect from the city. If there is not enough in the budget coffers to hire more by law officers, than skip the inspections for 1, 2, 3 , 4 or 5 years for all of us who have had them regularly and have complied to all the rules and regulations. Why do we need a yearly by law inspection unless we have made structural changes to our properties? The focus needs to be on making all establishments safe for all out of town visitors and to have a level playing field for all those who are established and who have complied and paid their dues over the years. Otherwise the alternative is to scrap all inspections and the MAT tax. Of course that would leave the that the city vulnerable to legal action in the case of a tragedy as we saw in Montreal. Reflext upon the possible consequences....
It's not fair for my properties and all other properties who is compliant with the rules, regulations, inspections, licensing requirements, etc.
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.
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!
This is the right course of action. All stakeholders must take this seriously and provide a level playing field for all or we are forced to address it. Leaving money on the table is absurd in this time of strapped municipal budgets. Cutting shows a lack of vision and responsibility
We play by the rules and want the City to ensure everyone else does as well.
Absolutely!
City has promised an "even playing field" for years. Time to actually implement a plan to make it so. Eliminating agency/enforcement roles whereby this can become a reality is detrimental to enforcement, and in fact, takes us all in the opposite direction. Help us understand then, "Why should any of us who are legally compliant; who pay licensing and collect MAT fees, continue to do so, when City is not enforcing their own bylaw on ALL who are illegally operating under the radar?" This lop-sided paradigm has been going on far too long. It's high time for City to live up to unkept promises for both the sake of integrity ("even playing field"), but also for the sake of City coffers!
We need to protect our City against the potential liabilities should such unlicensed properties have significant issues. Just refer to what has happened in Montreal with a fire at an Airbnb in 2023. Many of victims were staying at an illegal Airbnb at the building on Place d'Youville. In total, 22 people were inside at the time of the fire. Apart from the seven who died, nine people were injured, and six emerged unhurt.
The City of Stratford needs to level the playing field for accommodations, who play an important role in Stratford’s tourism sector.
It's time the City declared an even and fair playing field for all. We who are compliant insist that those who are not, should be held accountable.
Please help us, help you.