🗞️ Will new Airbnb rules mean more housing?

Good morning Halifax,

The fall sitting of the legislature is in full swing and—as usual—things are weird.

On Thursday, NDP leader Claudia Chender tabled legislation to declare domestic violence an epidemic in the province, saying that the formal designation would underscore the seriousness of the issue—while validating survivors.

And since “epidemic” was the exact terminology used in the recommendations outlined in the Mass Casualty Commission, this is great news and kind of how we hope the government will work. Experts do inquiry. Experts make recommendations. Government adopts recommendations in making legislation. Hooray!

Except premier Tim Houston’s first reaction was “it’s a no from me” because he didn’t think it was “necessary” because the government is already doing “other things” to address the problem. Oh really? Where? 👀

But then like 20 minutes later,  he changed his mind and the bill passed. Because I’m a woman in the world—and thus jaded—I’m inclined to believe that his communications team were like 😳 and told him to walk it back. But also, the passage followed a tense conversation involving four women who were advocating for the bill cornering Houston near a hallway elevator outside the legislative chamber. Which is some true queen shit 👑.

Either way, the premier’s initial reaction to the bill is incredibly telling and leaves me feeling incredibly discouraged.

But I do feel encouraged about you having a great day!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ☀️ 24°

Tomorrow: ☀️ 28°

Next Day: ☀️ 28°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

NEWS + OPINION

Will short-term rental regulations increase Nova Scotia’s housing supply?

Short-term rentals in Nova Scotia, such as Airbnbs, will have to be registered with the province when new regulations come into effect at the end of September—a move the government hopes will create more long-term housing.

Announced in a press release from the Nova Scotian government last month, the rules introduced in the Short-term Rentals Registration Act will see new registration requirements, categories, rates and fines for non-compliance. Short-term rental operators will have to register their accommodations for a predetermined fee based on location, and also need to prove that they’re compliant with municipal bylaws and have consent from property owners or condo boards.

These changes come in the wake of municipalities across the province, including HRM, introducing their own regulations to moderate short-term rentals. In September 2023, amendments approved by Halifax council to the Municipal Planning Strategy and land-use bylaws came into effect—strict requirements to how and where short-term rentals could operate within the city. 

In residential zones, entire-home short-term rentals are only permitted in primary residences, not including second units. So you can rent your own house, but not that converted shed in the backyard. In commercial zones, they’re permitted only where other tourist accommodations, such as hotels and motels, are also permitted. Short-term bedroom rentals, replacing bed and breakfast provisions, were allowed in both residential and commercial zones that support short-term rentals, but require the host to be on site while rooms are occupied, meaning no more “ghost hotels.” 

Under the new provincial regulations, it will cost the host $50 to register for rentals within primary residences. This changes to $150 if hosts have five or more bedrooms for rent, matching the rate for traditional tourist accommodations.

Short-term rentals within commercial zones are broken down into tiers by municipality. If within tier one (Bedford, Beechville, Cole Harbour, Dartmouth, Halifax, Lakeside and Lower Sackville), the cost will be $2,000 for registration. Tier three (Clark’s Harbour, Digby, Lockeport, Mulgrave and Shelbourne) costs $240. Every other municipality in the province not covered by tier one or tier three is in tier two, costing $500 to register.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer looks at the numbers to see if the new provincial regulations will increase Nova Scotia’s housing supply.

🤔 Need To Know

🪧 The strike that has closed libraries in Halifax for the last 3.5 weeks could come to an end on Thursday—the employer and union representing hundreds of workers have reached a tentative labour deal.

💼 Calling all job seekers from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to attend the 5th Annual Out & Equal Job Fair to connect with inclusive employers!*

🛩️ In more labour news, travellers expressed relief on Sunday after Air Canada and the union representing thousands of its pilots negotiated a new deal and averted a disruptive, countrywide shutdown.

🎞️ From quirky comedies to deep dramas, come hungry for stories and leave stuffed with cinematic goodness—at the Atlantic International Film Festival! Screening now at Park Lane.*

🏛️ Premier Tim Houston reaffirmed his position on Friday that he will not accept any attempt by Ottawa to resettle thousands of asylum seekers in the province—callings on the feds to “drop the idea.”

*Sponsored Post

EDUCATION

Campus bike shop encourages students to get biking

Everyone knows fall is just “Long Summer” in Nova Scotia, meaning there’s plenty of time to get outside and spin tires on trails and roads—bike tires. For rentals, repairs, knowledge and trips, there’s a place for bike enthusiasts and newbies on Dalhousie University’s Studley campus. 

The Dal/King’s Bike Centre—run by students for the community of students and non-students alike—hosts all of the above and more, including free week-long rentals to students, through their shop at 1 Alumni Crescent. Staffed by knowledgeable bike mechanics, the bike shop has an inventory of affordable new and used bike parts for sale to community members. For help with repairs, staff are there to answer questions during their open hours, seven days a week. 

For students, staff and faculty at Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College, bike loans are available for free for up to seven days after becoming members at the Dal/King’s Bike Centre. Register with your school email and ID number; all bike loans come with helmets and U-locks. The Bike Centre also has a tricycle available for loan that can be used by students and community members with disabilities.

The Coast’s education reporter  Lauren Phillips has more on how university students can get cycling this fall.

🗞️ In Other News

⛺ A designated tent encampment beneath the Macdonald Bridge is raising safety concerns for people who work or live nearby, after police discovered firearms and stolen property at the site.

🚨 A Nova Scotia man was arrested at an airport in Houston—before boarding a flight to Mexico—and charged with murdering a woman who has been reported missing from the Annapolis Valley.

🗳️ After a slump in voter turnout in 2020, HRM is focusing on voter accessibility ahead of October’s municipal elections.

✌️ Walking Together For Peace—a 200-km walk across Nova Scotia—began in Pugwash and will end in Halifax on Sep. 21 for International Day of Peace. 

✈️ Simply Blue Group—an energy firm based in Ireland—is planning to build a plant in eastern Nova Scotia to produce sustainable aviation fuel, using about 700,000 tonnes of wood biomass annually.

🌡️ Halifax's clogged arteries are doing more than steaming rush-hour commuters, they're also cranking up the temperature in the urban core—according to a researcher at Dalhousie University. 

🏞️ The artist behind a new art exhibit called “Light in the Forest”—on now at the Museum of Natural History—says she wants it to serve as a safe space for people and their kids.

🗓️ Things To Do

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 A Midsummer Night's Dream Presented by Neptune Theatre: Set against the seedy underbelly of Prohibition, this show is sexy, gritty and dark. The scene is set with a secret pre-show, burlesque performers and a secret Speakeasy, and you will never look at the Fairies, Lovers and Mechanicals the same way again. Think Moulin Rouge meets the Bard. | Sep 10-Oct 5 | From $33

🗓 Canada's Storytellers: Cuisine Ton Quartier: Cuisine Ton Quartier is an inclusive social art project that opens people up to others and aims to reduce racism. It reinforces a positive perception of the courageous people from elsewhere who contribute to our society. | Sep 16 | 7pm | Free

🗓 Penderecki String Quartet—The Music Room Chamber Players Series: One of Canada's finest chamber ensembles, the Penderecki Quartet, is making its first appearance in Nova Scotia since 2010. They bring us a mix of classics and Canadian works, including a late work of Murray Schafer's, written as the composer grappled with the onset of dementia. | Sep 18 | 7:30pm | $35

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️ The Baie St. Paul bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Charlottetwon at 6:21am. 

🛳️ The Tropic Hope container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Croix at 7:15am.

➡️ The Morning Pilot vehicle carrier leaves Halifax for New York at 1pm.

🛳️➡️ The Carnival Venezia cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 8am and leaves for Canadian seas at 4pm.

➡️ The Atlantic Sea container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 5pm.

🛳️ The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Tampa at 9:21pm.

➡️ The Acadian oil tanker leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 10pm.

🛳️➡️ The One Cygnus container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 5:45am and leaves for Singapore at 10pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍸 The Forbidden Pleasure cocktail at Water Polo is temptation in a glass: Tanqueray Ten gin, bubblegum and strawberry-lime syrup.

🌶️ Spice up your brunch with the Heuvos Rancheros from The Canteen: housemade chorizo, refried beans, fried egg, guacamole, pico de gallo, lime sour cream, feta, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, fried tortilla.

👀 In Case You Missed It

⚽ University sports are growing in Canada. They can be the reason students move across the country to study and compete, they can build exciting inner-and-outer provincial rivalries and they can allow families and fans of athletes to follow their journeys from afar—with the help of live streaming. Atlantic University Sport introduced regular season paid subscription options in August. The introduction of paid subscriptions to watch university sports has been met with mixed emotions. The Coast’s Lauren Phillips has more.

⚖️ Profanities erupted in a Halifax courtroom as the family of a murder victim hurled insults at the convicted killer and voiced anger at the sentence he received—Justin Ronald Adams-Clarke smirked and extended both middle fingers at the family as he was led away.

🚨 Two men are facing charges related to weapons, drugs and stolen property after Halifax police recovered a long list of items, including a loaded sawed-off shotgun, an unloaded .22 rifle, drug paraphernalia, bikes, power tools, generators and cash.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading The Coast Daily today.

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Haligonian.

And before you go, let us know: