The City of Timmins said it’s collected $301,000 since implementing its municipal accommodation tax (MAT) in May.
The four per cent MAT, approved by city council last spring, applies to any short-term accommodations, including hotels, motels, cottages, and Airbnbs within the city.
The province of Ontario passed legislation in 2017 allowing municipalities to charge the tax. Under the regulation, at least half the collected tax must be used toward tourism initiatives.
North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay have also implemented the tax.
Timmins CAO Dave Landers said the city can expect to collect between $700,000 and $900,000 annually.
Now the city is working on a governance model for how the revenue will be used.
Tourism Timmins is proposing ideas be vetted by a six-member Tourism Investment Committee. It would comprise the mayor, treasurer, CAO, tourism manager, an appointed member of the Chamber of Commerce hospitality committee, and a member at large.
Next in the process, the city will create a non-profit organization, appoint members to the committee, and establish criteria for applications for projects.
– With files from Maija Hoggett, TimminsToday.ca.
