Adrien Le Toux Getty Images iStockphoto At a press briefing, Minister Laforest gave the example of the Îles-de-la -Madeleine, whose village of Cap-aux-Meules can be seen here. Since the pandemic, the popularity of destinations like this has been such that the region is unable to house the health workers it recruits through great effort.
Destinations like the Magdalen Islands, which lack housing for their residents, could soon impose steep taxes on owners of homes that remain unoccupied outside of the tourist season.
The owner of a residence worth $400,000 would thus be subject to an additional municipal tax of up to $4,000 if their home is unoccupied for more than 180 days per year.
This measure appears in Bill 39 on municipal taxation tabled Thursday by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Andrée Laforest. The minister does not impose new taxes herself, but she gives cities that wish to do so the power to do so.
According to her, “in a situation of housing crisis, we cannot accept » that accommodation is only rented “three months per year”.
At a press briefing, Ms. Laforest gave the example of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine and stressed that tourist rentals were often “very very expensive”, which allowed owners to easily meet their expenses by only renting a few months.
Since the pandemic, the craze for destinations like the Magdalen Islands has been such that the region is unable to house the health workers it recruits at the price great efforts.
1% maximum
The new tax cannot exceed 1% of the value of the property, indicated Andrée Laforest. The minister also indicated that this change responded to repeated requests from municipal lobbies.
The measure only applies to main residences and chalets would not be subject to it, she also said. reported.
“It’s really important,” she said, adding that “too much housing” was currently being kept for subletting or rental. “This measure will encourage and invite owners to really make accommodations available for rent year-round. This is a really good measure. »