琉璃神社 council will try again to seek exemptions for certain properties from the province鈥檚 short-term rental legislation.

A staff report says it originally appeared that there may be the ability for local government to request site-by-site exemptions.

鈥淭here is no opportunity for 琉璃神社 to send a list of made-in 琉璃神社 exemptions with criteria for consideration,鈥� Director of Planning and Development Ryan Smith told council at its Feb. 5 meeting.

Mayor Tom Dyas has a meeting with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon in a couple of weeks and will bring up the issue.

鈥淪o the communication we will have, and continue to have, will be one of exemptions and the possibility of it,鈥� Dyas said.

Coun. Mohini Singh was disappointed with the province鈥檚 stance.

鈥淪uddenly they have rules but they haven鈥檛 looked at the fact that we鈥檙e a tourist town.鈥�

Coun. Luke Stack noted council has received correspondence from the public upset over and in favour of the short-term rental legislation.

鈥淚 can see how this could be a divisive issue for a particular strata to sort out because there are strong views on both sides of the table on this one.鈥�

Stack sided with Singh in expressing disappointment with the province.

鈥淚 felt the province should consider some of this in light of the way we have had these properties zoned. In my opinion, it is a setback.鈥�

Coun. Ron Cannan echoed Singh鈥檚 concern over tourism and said the city needs to look at a made-in 琉璃神社 solution.

鈥淢y concern is the impact it鈥檚 going to have on local businesses, whether it鈥檚 downtown, Sunset (Drive)鈥�.South Pandosy, all those small businesses are going to be impacted severely by the downturn in tourism.鈥�

The provincial short-term legislation takes effect on May 1.

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