The Municipality of Wawa's continuing to look into a tax on short-term accommodations.
In a special public meeting last night, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson outlined further details about the proposed "Municipal Accommodation Tax", noting it's recommended by the Municipality's Strategic and Tourism Plans, and a number of other Northern communities have implemented one - including Chapleau, Marathon, Sault Ste. Marie, Greater Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Timmins - as a move to help support tourism, with half of the funds going to municipal coffers and half to a third-party "tourism entity".
Patterson's proposing setting up a non-profit that would include all businesses collecting the MAT as members, with a board to include 2 members from accommodation operators, a public member, 2 Municipal representatives like Council members or staff or members of committees like the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee, though the board could include further members, as the organization feels necessary.
As noted by Patterson, funds raised through the tax could support Tourist Information Centre operations, highway signage, a marketing or branding plan, the expansion of the Downtown Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to include Mission Road and potentially Pinewood Drive, to support downtown improvements under the CIP, and otherwise support business and entrepreneurs, while some of the funds could be used to cover costs of administering the tax, as Kirkland Lake does.
About ten members of the public were in attendance, with Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee Chair Heidi McLaren giving the committee's enthusiastic support for the MAT as a "strong message" of support for economic development and the community - touting its potential benefits - though several local hotel owners raised concerns about the timing, noting low occupancy so far this year - even after lowering prices - with many people "shopping around", watching costs, and cutting down on travel, though there was support from Mary Harbocian of the Wawa Music Festival - who suggested it could benefit the arts community, promoting events - while another local accommodation owner spoke in favour of the MAT, saying customers were used to it as it is "everywhere".
Patterson said plans are to incorporate the input with more research into a final report for Council's July meeting, with a MAT by-law expected to be brought for Council consideration in August or September.
