In a letter sent to Tourism Secretary Caroline Proulx on Friday, of which Radio-Canada received a copy, Airbnb’s regional public policy director, Nathan Rotman, promises to introduce a mandatory registration field in the coming days that will apply to all ads in the province.
Hosts who don’t fill out this field will have their ads removed, he promises, without specifying whether the San Francisco multinational will take it upon itself to verify the accuracy of the information requested from owners.
Airbnb leaders – who were accused by Minister Proulx on Thursday of lacking initiative – are therefore committed to complying with the legislative change promised by the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) earlier this week.
Additionally, we will make our city portal available to the Quebec government to facilitate monitoring of host compliance, Rotman said in his letter Friday.
“These measures are part of our ongoing efforts to work with legislators to develop thoughtful and fair short-term placement regulations. »
– A quote from Nathan Rotman, Regional Director of Public Policy at Airbnb
Airbnb Canada says it understands this measure could impact thousands of Quebec hosts who rely on this revenue to make ends meet.
For this reason, the platform is also committed to continuing its awareness campaigns with hosts to inform them of the CITQ’s registration requirements.
The fire that changed everything
The Legault government, singled out for its inaction in this filing, has pledged since the Old Montreal fire to strengthen its tourist accommodation law by the end of the current session of Parliament.
Canada’s Airbnb leaders were personally warned Thursday that Quebec will soon hold them “accountable” at a brief meeting with Minister Proulx.
“I’m pleased with Airbnb’s decision to comply with our legislation, as I requested during our meeting yesterday,” the key stakeholder commented on Friday afternoon.
I also urge other platforms to comply, she said in an emailed statement, assuring that recent developments have not changed her intention to tighten the tourist accommodation law.
The research in the rubble of the William Watson Ogilvie building will continue throughout the weekend, the SPVM said on Friday morning. (file photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes
Meanwhile, inquiries continue to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire that destroyed the William Watson Ogilvie building on Thursday March 16.
So far, four bodies have been recovered from the rubble, and three people are still missing. According to the latest police information, the fire should not have killed more than seven people.
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