Province announces updated regulations for short-term rentals

Good morning,

Nate here with you again. 

Trekking through the woods this week I was pleasantly surprised to see one of the Sedins going for a run. Now I don’t know if it was Daniel or Henrik (they’re identical) but it sure was cool to see Vancouver sports royalty in the flesh. 

For those who may not know, Daniel and Henrik Sedin played 18 seasons for the Canucks, scoring over 1,000 points each, and were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022. 

The twins, currently working as skill development coaches for the Canucks, are part of an illustrious coaching staff that has worked Vancouver’s roster to a division title.

Seeing one of them out and about was a thrill for this hockey nerd, but the whole city may soon be caught up in the excitement of the playoffs, which start this weekend. 

We’ll have more on that later… but for now, let’s get to the news!

— Nate Lewis

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WEATHER

Friday: 18 🌡️ 7 | ☀️

Saturday: 19 🌡️ 7 | 🌧️

Sunday: 13 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Monday: 14 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️

HOUSING

Province announces updated regulations for short-term rentals

What happened: Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon gave an update on new short-term rental (STR) regulations that come into force on May 1. 

What’s new: The province has created a data portal to monitor and track STRs and established an enforcement unit that will conduct investigations into alleged non-compliance. They also closed loopholes that allowed STR hosts to operate under pre-existing municipal rules, according to CBC.

Background: The new legislation, passed last year, mandates that secondary residences can no longer be listed as STRs in many communities. Only principal residences and secondary suites/units on the property can be rented out on a short term basis. As of next month, STR platforms like Airbnb will be required to share their data with the province and “quickly” remove illegal listings. 

Yes, but: These rules only apply to communities with over 10,000 people, according to City News. Smaller municipalities and resorts can choose to opt-in to the new rules but are not required to abide by them. 

• The new requirement will apply to more than 60 communities, and 17 communities that were initially exempt have decided to opt in, according to the province. 

Medium sized cities like Prince George have asked not to be included, but bigger municipalities can only opt out if they have a rental vacancy rate of three per cent or more in the previous two years, according to CBC. 

Prince George is close to this mark but fell just below the three per cent threshold last year. For comparison, Vancouver’s rental vacancy rate hasn’t been near three per cent since 1999 (excluding a one-off year in 2020 driven by the pandemic).  

The other side of the fence: B.C. United has called the legislation “sloppy” and asked the NDP government to exempt purpose-built STRs from the new rules. 

• Meanwhile, an organization representing STR unit owners is bringing a petition in B.C. Supreme Court to preserve their previous rights to rent their units, or be compensated by the province for lost income, according to the Times Colonist. 

The big takeaway: Ultimately, the goal is to return STRs to the long-term rental market and give municipalities stronger tools to enforce their bylaws, according to the provincial government. 

With the data portal and enforcement unit announced today, the province seems to be taking a big swing at meaningfully regulating short-term rental platforms. However, whether that results in more long-term housing supply coming on the market remains to be seen.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

💸 $464,207: How much Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer made in 2023, $100,000 more than the next highest-paid municipal employee. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🏒191: The number of calendar days the Canucks led their division this season en route to their first ever Pacific division title. [NHL Stats]

⛺ 34: The number of years this man has lived peacefully in Stanley Park. The 74-year-old artist is now planning to leave, as his campsite has become physically exposed by the recent tree removals in the park.  [Global]

NHL 

Canucks playoff preview

As promised, we’ve got a hockey preview for you!

What happened: The Vancouver Canucks have a date with the Nashville Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’ll play game one on Sunday night at Rogers Arena.

• As Pacific division champions, the Canucks are guaranteed home ice advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs, should they get there.

The opponent: The Predators wrapped up an impressive campaign that saw them go on an 18-game point streak in February and March, to lock them into the first wild card spot in the West. However, some are wondering if the Preds peaked too early, as they’ve struggled somewhat in April, going 4-5-1 to end the season. 

The stars: Nashville certainly boasts some all-world talent, with top scorer Filip Forsberg, ace defenseman Roman Josi, and former playoff MVP Ryan O’Reilly leading the charge for the Predators. Juuse Saros, their starting goaltender, has given up four goals in each of his last three starts (that’s bad) but could be a difference maker for the Preds if he finds his top form. 

• On the Vancouver side, Quinn Hughes, JT Miller, Elias Pettersson, and Thatcher Demko are the key contributors for the Canucks. 

Hughes has been superlative all season in his first year as team captain, and is the leading candidate for NHL defenseman of the year. Miller, who recently became just the fifth Canuck all-time to record 100 or more points in a season, has been consistently good for Vancouver. Demko, one of the best goaltenders in the league, returned from injury on Tuesday against Calgary and looked excellent. 

• Pettersson’s form has been underwhelming of late, as he seems to be struggling to get his shot away and has had some inconsistencies on the defensive side of the puck. However, he still finished in the top 20 in league scoring and is an electric all-around player when he’s on his game.

Nate’s take: While local media who have to travel to cover the Canucks are unhappy with the opponent (the air travel between Vancouver and Nashville is notoriously challenging), I think this is a good outcome for the Canucks. 

• While Nashville is a talented squad, I think there is something to the notion that they may have peaked too early, and they’ve been struggling defensively of late. 

The travel to LA or Las Vegas may have been smoother, but I think the Canucks’ best path to the second round goes through Tennessee. 

THE AGENDA

🌆 Vancouver city council may be forced to reconsider zoning in Shaughnessy based on a new provincial law mandating four units to be allowed on a standard residential lot. ABC’s majority voted down a motion to open up the neighbourhood’s zoning last November. City staff are working on a report on the area that’s expected in June. [Global]

👟The Sun Run is happening this Sunday! Road closures will start as early as 5 am and impact vehicle access downtown and along the Fairview side of False Creek. Particular spots to avoid are Georgia, Denman, Burrard, Fir, 3rd, 4th, and 6th, as well as the Burrard and Cambie Street bridges. The 10 km run will be wrapped up by 1:30 pm. [Vancouver Is Awesome]

😡 A cyclist was killed by a driver in a collision on Clark Drive and 11th Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. Ambulance, fire, and police services showed up in force, shutting down Clark between Broadway and 12th while paramedics attempted to save the cyclists’ life. [Vancouver Sun]

🏡 A legal battle over the sale of a Richmond home for nearly $3 million was settled in a B.C. Supreme Court decision this week. The prospective purchaser, who lived in the property for nearly a year but failed to make payments beyond a $200,000 deposit, has been ordered to pay the sellers $400,000 in damages. [CBC]

🌉 The Cambie Street Bridge was closed again last night for filming. The unnamed “major motion picture” was shooting on the bridge from 7 pm last night until 6 am this morning. [City News]

🚆 A viral video of someone “surfing” between two Skytrain cars has drawn condemnation from police and digital media experts. The video, taken between the Main Street-Science World and Stadium-Chinatown stations, got a lot of clicks but could embolden others to film dangerous stunts for clout. [Global]

🧑‍⚖️ A man who was found not criminally responsible for killing his three children in 2008 had his lawyer resign over alleged procedural unfairness in his former client’s Review Board hearing this week. At issue is the man’s current rights to unescorted overnight trips from the psychiatric hospital in Coquitlam where he has been institutionalized since 2010. [CBC]

🏗️ Metrotown Mall in Burnaby may see another building boom if a new development plan from Ivanhoe Cambridge, the mall’s owner, is approved. The development company wants to build as many as 15 new towers over 35 acres as part of a huge redevelopment of the area. The first phase of the project wouldn’t be complete until 2054. [Urbanized]

🧒 Generational fairness? A brief analysis of the 2024 federal budget finds a focus on younger Canadians’ concerns, namely housing and climate anxiety, were featured prominently in new funding streams. However, it remains to be seen if the slew of programs will have their intended effect. [The Tyee]

🐶 In a test case for B.C.’s new pet custody law, which guides courts to treat pets as family members rather than property, a woman lost her claim for sole custody of a golden retriever named Stella. The woman, a nurse, and her former partner, a veterinarian, will share custody of the dog on an interim basis. 

💰The city’s yearly financial statement shows Mayor Ken Sim makes approximately $200,000. For comparison, Kennedy Stewart, the previous Mayor, made just under $180,000 in 2021. 

🤕 A man who was stabbed while stopping a robbery during a Facebook Marketplace transaction has had $2,000 in medical bills waived by the province. As an international student the man was not covered by MSP at the time of the incident. [CBC]

EVENTS

Beautiful BC Art Fair | Pacific Arts Market | April 20 | Discover a diverse range of artworks from talented local artists showcasing the beauty of British Columbia. | Free

Saturday Night Laughs | The Show Cellar | April 20, 7:30 pm | Come down to the intimate, speak-easy style Show Cellar for an hilarious night of comedy, based entirely on your suggestions. | Tickets $23

Abbotsford Tulip Festival | Lakewood Flowers | April 6 - May 12 | Walk amongst 35 acres of tulips and field flowers at the Abbotsford Tulip Festival! | Tickets $8-15

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Art | 639 Hornby Street | Daily | Check out two exhibitions, “XIÁM”, exploring the medium of comics in the work of Indigenous artists from the Northwest Coast, and “George Clutesi,” honouring the work and legacy of the celebrated Tseshaht artist, writer, and actor. | Tickets $13

SOUNDspace | Vancouver Playhouse | April 19-20, 8-9 pm | Tonight! Catch the Canadian premiere of Dorrance Dance’s latest tap-dancing work | Tickets $40

Brewhalla North Vancouver | The Shipyards  | April 19 | Today! Join thousands of other craft beverage & music fans for a day of discovery. 19+ event. | GA $50

Theatresports: Unhinged | The Improv Centre at Granville Island  | Fridays and Saturdays starting April 19 | Two highly skilled improv comedy teams compete for laughs and audience approval in a spirited, high-energy contest that’s sure to leave you eager for more. | Tickets $30

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A DFO scientist is asking the public to report any sightings of sea turtles, in an attempt to figure out how often endangered turtles are in B.C. waters. [Times Colonist] 

• Don Andrews has been the public address announcer for the Vancouver Whitecaps for nine years. Apparently, he sounds the same regardless of whether he’s speaking to 20,000 soccer fans or one reporter over the phone! [Georgia Straight]

• Ever dreamed of owning a church? The West Point Grey Presbyterian Church at Trimble and West 12th, with over 12,000 square feet of land, could be yours for an undisclosed price. [Colliers]

• The various restaurants and bars at Parq casino will be hosting Canucks playoff events, featuring games, giveaways, and food specials. [Georgia Straight]

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

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GAME TIME

Today’s game is Vancouver Wordle. Can you guess the answer? Play it here.