Quebec set to become first Canadian province to legalize Airbnb
Airbnb is battling legal problems all over the world, so when London legalized the accommodation rental company, Airbnb floated a house down the Thames to celebrate. We're curious to what Quebec does to celebrate becoming the first province in Canada to legalize and regulate Airbnb, but we're hoping to see a giant branded zamboni driving down the streets of Montreal.
Tourism Minister Dominique Vien is leading the legislation push, but his motivation seems less about promoting free commerce and much more about tapping into the potentially lucrative revenue of a company valued at $24 billion. The extra money could help recover from a long period of economic trouble, including six years in a row of deficits. If all goes as planned, the new law will come into effect in the fall.
Hotels also hope the legislation will help rein in illegal hotels and require Airbnb hosts to pay Quebec the $250 annual fee to rent a room for fewer than 31 days at a time. Enforcing the law, however, may be another question, as currently only two inspectors cover the entire province.
Airbnb's Head of Public Policy Patrick Robinson welcomes the move but cautions against making overly strict rules that don’t differentiate between types of renters, stating on the Airbnb website:
"These rules should be straightforward and clear for regular people to follow, and recognize that the vast majority of Airbnb hosts only rent the homes they live in to visitors on an occasional basis. They are not professionals, they are regular people – and many local residents are relying on this income to make ends meet."
Vien’s press secretary, Caroline St-Hilaire, seems to have heard him, telling the Montreal Gazette in April:
“We know some people rent their apartment or room for only two weeks a year. They’re not necessarily whom we’re targeting.”
No doubt the move gives cheer to pro-legalization advocates everywhere, especially after successes earlier this year in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Portland. Plus, it will allow nearly 3,000 Airbnb hosts in Montreal alone to come out of the shadows.