Friday, December 29, 2023
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Has Tourism Failed ?
I wanted to start a new thread as the last one has wandered. In former times , housing was an issue here in Tofino . People working in the herring plant would camp along Sharp Road by the Dolphin Motel. Sin City was built as a response to this and other housing issues.
McMillan Bloedel built ten or twenty houses as well as a trailer park to support its logging operations in the area.
Logging and fishing are gone and tourism was seen as the way forward. Now tourism is seen as being largely responsible for the housing shortage . Is tourism the problem or has it just been grossly mismanaged in Tofino ??
Comments are open.
Friday, December 8, 2023
Monday, December 4, 2023
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Mayor Statement on Short Term Rentals
MAYOR STATEMENT ON PROVINCIAL SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
Posted: Nov 29, 2023 | By: Communications
At the Regular Council Meeting on November 28, 2023, Tofino Mayor Dan Law addressed the recent Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act proposed by the Province on October 16, 2023.
Here is the full statement:
" I would like to take time to address BC’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act tabled by the Province of British Columbia on October 16, 2023.
Tofino is a unique community and a place that has become increasingly desirable to live and visit. Like much of the province, our community is facing significant housing challenges. Affordable long-term housing continues to be a top priority for this Council. B.C.'s recently tabled Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act marks a significant step towards achieving our shared goal of sustainable housing solutions. The legislation tabled by the province has several implications for Tofino that I would like to offer some clarity on:
- Immediately after this legislation gains Royal Assent (within the coming months), increased fines and tickets up to $50,000 may be imposed on illegal short-term rentals in Tofino. These fines will be backed by Provincial enforcement.
- On May 1, 2024, legal non-conforming protections will no longer be applicable to short-term rentals in all BC municipalities, including Tofino.
- Starting Summer 2024, data sharing will begin between the Province, The District of Tofino, and short-term rental platform operators (including Airbnb etc.). This will make it easier for the Province and the District to identify and enforce non-compliant Short-Term Rental operations.
- In Late 2024, the Province will launch a Short-Term Rental registry and will require platforms to remove listings without valid provincial registry numbers.
- The Province will impose a principal residency requirement which will limit short-term rentals to:
- The host’s principal residence
- Plus, one secondary suite or accessory dwelling unit
Though currently exempt, communities under 10,000 as well as resort communities may choose to opt into the principal residency requirement.
I would like to emphasize, that the District will fully embrace the increased provincial Short-Term Rental enforcement measures which in and of themselves will make a positive impact on our community and on Tofino’s housing supply.
Those who hold a business licence for a short-term rental with legal non-conforming status, and choose to renew their business licence for 2024, will not be issued a refund should their business be impacted. For all legal non-conforming status business enquiries, please contact bylaw services.
Prior to this legislation announcement, the District of Tofino has taken proactive measures and determined efforts to address the growing housing challenges in Tofino, including:
- The creation of a full-time Business Licence Inspector position to proactively enforce illegal short-term rentals.
- A provision that requires business licence holders to provide long-term accommodations on vacation rental properties (caretaker suites or cabins)
- Restoration of the Tofino Housing Corporation in 2017, followed by significant affordable housing developments including the Headwaters project approaching completion within the year that will increase local housing stock by 10%.
- A 3% tax on online accommodation providers (Airbnb) that is provided to the Tofino Housing Corporation.
- A nearly $3 million application to the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund
- A limit on new tourist accommodation zonings and provisions on new developments.
Further to this, in late 2022, Council directed staff to explore possible amendments to the Zoning Regulations Bylaw and to conduct a Short-Term Rental Review to specifically explore how increasing Short-Term Rental restrictions could help address the housing challenges in Tofino. These preliminary discussions included both zoning and principal residency requirement changes. This work has been paused while staff await detailed regulations for the Province’s aforementioned legislation.
Council recognizes there is more work to be done to address housing needs in this community. Council is also aware of the impact Provincial regulations may have on residents’ livelihoods, residents’ lived experience, housing equity, our local economy, and more.
In the coming weeks, further details of the proposed Provincial regulations are expected to be announced, and Council is awaiting those specifics. As a Resort Municipality, Tofino has the option to opt into the principal residence requirement. Prior to any decision, there will be a thorough public consultation process to allow all voices of this community to be heard. Stay tuned for this engagement window, which I encourage all residents to participate in.
In the meantime, Council and staff have engaged in conflict-of-interest examinations to ensure the District’s decision making process regarding this matter remains transparent and unbiased.
I would like to express the District's gratitude to those who have written to myself and Council regarding the Short-Term Rental legislation. Robust community feedback is vitally important as we navigate the complexities of housing policies and their implications for our community as a whole. Together, we can successfully navigate these opportunities and challenges to ensure our community thrives and becomes more equitable and liveable for all. "
Inspired to Engage?
Please note that prior to any decision on this matter, a thorough public consultation process will precede any decision by Council to opt in or out of the principal residence requirement. Stay tuned for the public engagement window and details on how to participate and have your voice heard.
In the meantime, please note that letters received by members of Council are added to the public record. If you would like your letter to be included on an upcoming public or private Council meeting agenda, or remain confidential to Council, please disclose this at the top of your letter prior to the public agenda item, deadline of 12 PM the Thursday before a regular Council meeting.
More information on writing to Council here
Watch the statement from the mayor here
Monday, November 27, 2023
Friday, November 24, 2023
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Monday, November 20, 2023
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Short Term Rental Act
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/housing-tenancy/short-term-rentals#
I’ve read through this and a few things come to mind . If adopted by the DOT , will Tibbs and Eik street be exempt. ? The legislation mentions a provincial compliance oversight department . How will they react to operations that might have a few extra suites ? Will there be a more stringent assessment of what is a principle residence ? Give it a read and comment please .
Monday, October 16, 2023
Tofino Exempt From New VR Rules
Tofino is exempt from the new rules but council can choose to opt in .
Friday, July 21, 2023
Water Leak Repair
Although it wasn’t a leak , a repair was made across from Industrial Way. This irregular water flow had been reported many times but was ground water until it wasn’t. #20%challenge #everydropcounts #listentolocals
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Pay Parking During Water Crisis
https://www.cheknews.ca/tofino-launches-downtown-pay-parking-1160690/
If as much effort was put into our water system as pay parking we wouldn’t be in this mess.
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Letter From Chris Lefevre
Mayor Dan Law
District Councillors
District of Tofino
121 Third Street, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
Dear Sirs / Madame’s,
RE: Water Crisis & Concerns 2023
2023 July 14
The July 6, 2023, letter from the Chief Administrative Officer addressed to the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce contains the following statement that appears to contain two completely contradictory concepts:
“As a proactive local government with a well-established emergency program, we began preparing for this in the Spring.”
Clearly on the current facts, your local governance has not been proactive. Tofino is in a rainforest. It is well known to experience some of the highest annual rainfalls in the country. There is no shortage of water. A proactive local government, with the opportunity of a virtually endless supply of fresh water would not have to deal with water shortages as an emergency. Indeed an “emergency” is by definition something unexpected, not a recurring annual or seasonal event.
I direct you to Walkerton, Fall of 2002:
The Honourable Dennis O’Connor was appointed to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the water supply system that occurred in the spring of 2000 in Walkerton Ontario. Walkerton’s drinking water system failed, seven people died and more than 2,300 people became ill. The municipality of Brockton was one of the many defendants in the ensuing litigation. The Justice addressed the roll of municipal governments as owners of municipal water systems generally and I attach an extract from the inquiry entitled “Chapter 10 – The Roll of Municipal Governments”.
The Walkerton case resulted in a class action that was settled. Between 2002 and 2019 in excess of $72 million was paid out to plaintiffs in that class action. These included business owners, whose businesses were impacted. There were 17 lawyers acting for the various public authorities involved in defending the class action. When the matter was wrapped up in 2019, the overall cost arising from essentially a single failure but with monumental health impact, resulted in costs and expenditures exceeding $200 million. It will be very obvious to the District, that with or without insurance coverage an event that gives rise to any similar type of claim would render the District insolvent.
In June 2023 the submarine water supply pipeline failed twice. I understand that the line in question is over 40 years old. In other words, the failure of the line is not so much a breakdown or malfunction, but instead is something, from an engineering perspective, to be expected, given conscious decisions over time to leave a pipe which no longer effectively provides a service, in place. A breakdown or malfunction is something that is unexpected. Known inadequacies do not fall in that category.
Similarly, there are many previous studies, reports, and reviews that point out the inadequate size and state of repair of the source reservoirs. Despite what appear to be obvious solutions, this critical part of your system goes unaddressed.
“Water is a unique local service. It is, of course, essential to human life and to the functioning of communities; in an urban environment, it is simply not possible to go without a communal water system. Water systems are also normally built around local water sources. As the Walkerton tragedy so clearly showed, the consequences of a failure in the water system tend to be most seriously felt by those who depend on it locally.”
“Municipal ownership, and the ensuing responsibilities, should provide a high degree of public accountability in relation to the local water system. In the event of mismanagement, municipal residents are in a position to hold those responsible accountable through the electoral process.”
I refer to this issue because also an alternative cause of a significant public health impact arises from the complete unavailability of water. If the 40-year old pipeline fails entirely, it is likely that the District supplies no water. Modern sanitary facilities simply cannot operate without water. Hospitals, schools, residences, and any food preparation activities undertaken in an urban or semi-urban environment without water raise the real and substantial risk of the outbreak of any number of epidemics.
Given the knowledge and understanding that the District and you as members of its council have, in the event of losses caused by the lack of an adequate supply of potable water, the District will have a substantial liability. At the very least I am confident that a failure of the Tofino water system will result in a significant number of both large and small claims being made. The costs of simply dealing with those kinds of claims alone should be a motivating factor to making more immediate and more significant planning and financial decisions around urgent repair and upgrade of the District’s water system.
The potential for health effects of epidemic proportion and indeed the “Walkerton” scenario in my view leaves no room for any decision other than repeating the Chief Administrator’s own words. Tofino is “a proactive local government with a well-established emergency program”. This council must treat water inadequacies as an emergency, and treat them at their roots, commencing with very substantial storage upgrades and a pipeline actually capable of functioning so that the supply reaches your citizens reliably.
The Walkerton experience is a huge reminder of the responsibility and liability the municipality is facing.
Your letter to me of July 8th, 2023, I will only comment upon in this forum as to (a) a gross misstatement of fact:
a) “The District has never been better prepared and positioned to deal with a water crisis”–a gross misstatement.
and (b) a contradiction of your words:
b) “There is no getting around the problem that this is a wicked problem.”–Admission of the problem.
My earnest in this matter, apart from the exposures you face, is to bring about late action when a possible crisis is at hand.
Where are the independent engineers and contractors to mitigate and assist in solving the crisis at hand? Where have you engaged learned elders of the community to assist in needed short term, and long term, solutions? Why is the municipality not digging at Ginnard Creek for extra storage?
Where is the “safe harbour” for our community, when its water supply and system is on the precipice of collapse – the warnings have existed since 2006!
I trust the Mayor and Council will govern themselves accordingly, as to the content of this written advice, and what may emanate therefrom!
Yours,
Chris Le Fevre
cc: Dan Law, Mayor
cc: Al Anderson, Councillor cc: Ali Sawyer, Councillor cc: Tom Stere, Councillor
cc: Duncan McMaster, Councillor cc: Sarah Sloman, Councillor
cc: Kat Thomas, Councillor
Tofino Creek Website
https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=08HB086
This website shows water volume and levels at Tofino Creek . Tofino Creek is up at the head of Tofino Inlet. It is not part of our water system but has similar characteristics to creeks on Meares Island. Tofino Creek is currently at what I believe is a historical low.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Monday, July 10, 2023
Sunday, July 9, 2023
Tofino Water Situation
This water tank has been leaking for more than eight years. I know it is just a small leak but WTF ?
The District of Tofino has told us not to water our plants or use water outdoors but continues to ignore this.
In the last 14 years , the District of Tofino has added only 100,000 gallons of additional storage. In that same time , demand has rapidly increased.
The District of Tofino used to publish daily water usage numbers but will no longer do so . Why not ? There is no significant precipitation in the 7 day forecast.
Comments are open .
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
Monday, June 12, 2023
Sunday, June 11, 2023
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Monday, May 8, 2023
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Comment on Pay Parking
I thought this comment deserved its own post:
I have lived in Tofino for a few years, and was always proud and eager to tell folks about what a great place it is....was.
The people of Tofino have always been it's biggest boosters just because they love it here. You hardly need a marketing strategy when the whole town is on board. This has been eroding for a few years. Super high cost of living, none existent housing options, high and increasingly higher taxes if you were able at some point in the past to buy a home. I could go on....Now they want to charge folks a parking fee to buy some groceries, or go to the skate park..I couldn't agree more with the previous two posters.
Even when the DOT started to charge for parking at the beach but gave me a pass, I felt like YA! We are all on the same team. Love this place. Willing to work for shit wages but someone respected that and gave me a break. Someone told me they were even thinking of giving out a little sticker, a display pass, for your window if you got the freebie pass. That is a cool idea. I want one of those. Lots would pay to get one of those to be part of the tribe.
What is happening when the folks like me who work here, resent the place and shit talk it. Right now Tofino deserves to be shit talked. I can understand now why folks who have lived her their whole lives are getting out,. town doesn't give a shit, and it is not because we don't have a rec centre. Rec centre? sure but I came here because of the Pacific Ocean, biggest rec centre on the planet. Tell me how I can afford to live here? Tell me that the Town gives a shit about people like me? It is clear we are definitely not on the same team.
Monday, April 17, 2023
Parking Story
None of our current council ran on the platform of downtown pay parking. The initiative came from unelected staff. It is part of their “war” on the car. I was told by a senior staff member that we don’t have a parking problem; we have a car problem. We’ve seen dozens of parking spots removed from the downtown to be replaced by planters and other stupid stuff. Intersections so narrow that they impede vehicular traffic.
Years ago there were quite a few offshore parking spots down by the Whisky Dock. The CAO at the time liked kayaking so he had the parking removed and had a kayak launching facility installed. Lawns and picnic tables were later installed in the former parking spots. This pushed the offshore cars uptown.
This would be an opportune time for council to start listening to their constituents instead of blindly following staff recommendations.
From David Tarrant :
The hidden 'best before date' for a government is when (the) political side stops bringing in solutions to be challenged by the public service & instead turns to the public service to generate those solutions," he tweeted. "What comes out of bureaucracy is almost always a flavour of 'more process.'
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Pay Parking in Tofino
https://talktofino.ca/downtown-pay-parking
According to this , some locals will have to pay while offshore residents will get a free pass. Only one free permit per household. Nobody campaigned on this.
