Municipalities across Northumberland County struggle to deal with short-term rentals. Those are the rental properties often associated with AirBnB or Vrbo online platforms.
For some, renting a space, either a room or a house, is an excellent source of income. It can be a stimulant for the local economy. Others see it as a significant boost for tourism.
Then, there are others who see it differently. There are noise issues, parking problems, and a host of other negatives.
Alnwick-Haldimand Township council is the latest to wrestle with its attempts to control short-term rentals. An ad hock committee recently brought forward some changes to a bylaw passed in 2022. These tweaks have a group of operators and the business association very concerned.
On today’s show, you will hear those concerns. Two representatives of the group will dive into the issue to see if a balance can be found. They will give their perspective on how it plays out in the township before council decides later this month.
Next, there is an update. About one year ago, the Community Counselling Resource Centre in Peterborough arrived in the county. It hoped to fill in a gap left by the closure of the Northumberland Community Counselling Centre, which was serving about 1,000 clients when it shut its doors.
We will hear from the executive director. She will share how the group is doing in Northumberland. The Chief Executive Officer for Family Services Ontario will also paint the bigger picture and where Northumberland fits into the array of mental health programs offered.
