NORTH BAY’S SHORT-TERM RENTAL BY-LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT
It’s been a highly contentious issue in the 705 that has sparked heated debate. STR operators in North Bay are now required to begin working towards obtaining a STR Licence to operate their rentals. According to North Bay’s website, “An STR is the rental of a residential dwelling unit (either the entire dwelling or individual rooms) for a period 28 consecutive days or less. STRs can be in any housing type (single detached, secondary units, apartments and condos) as long as all applicable requirements are met. This form of residential rental housing is mostly used by tourists and the booking process is mainly done through mobile phone apps & web platforms (e.g. Airbnb, VRBO and FlipKey). These transactions rarely have any in-person interaction.” The website also states that the goals of STR regulation are to protect long-term housing availability, health & safety, and to minimize neighbourhood incompatibility issues & protect the character of existing neighbourhoods.
Many townships and municipalities implemented new STR regulations on January 1st, so check online before renting.
OPERATION THIN ICE
Several charges were laid after a multi-agency initiative involving motor vehicles, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles. Members of the North Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, Snowmobile All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) unit, North Bay Police Service, and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) participated in a joint operation on Callander Bay of Lake Nipissing, and the surrounding area. As a result of the operation, 13 charges were laid under several acts including the Criminal Code, Highway Traffic Act, Liquor Licence and Control Act, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and the Ontario Fishery Regulations. In total, nine fish were seized, 87 motor vehicles were checked, along with eight off road vehicles and snowmobiles. Police also also conducted 25 Mandatory Alcohol Screening demands on drivers and operators, which resulted in no infractions.
CRISIS CALL RESULTS IN ARSON CHARGES FOR NORTH BAY
One man is facing arson charges after a house fire in North Bay on February 8th. At approximately 3:20 p.m. North Bay Police Service responded to a report of an individual in crisis on the roof of a residence on Main Street East, and a structure fire was reported. The suspect reportedly fell from the roof of the building and sustained non-life threatening injuries. The structure sustained extensive damage and nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution. A 27-year-old man is charged with one count of arson and is scheduled for a court appearance April 4th.
YOUTH CENTRE IN SUDBURY TO BE CONVERTED INTO AN INSTITUTION FOR ADULT WOMEN
Staff of Cecil Facer Youth Centre in Sudbury have been notified that the 16-bed facility will close in two years and converted into a 50-bed institution for adult women. OPSEU, the union representing workers, says this forces Sudbury area youth in custody to move hours away from their families and communities.
In a news release, Peter Harding, Co-chair of OPSEU/SEFPO said, “This is yet another short-sighted closure of a facility for youth who need specialized help in their own communities. It’s not too late to reverse this bad decision.”
Displaced staff from Cecil Facer will be provided with employment options, but the union says workers are concerned about the impact of the decision on the youth they work with. The land for Cecil Facer was donated to the province by Judge Cecil Facer and his family, who wanted the land to be used to support youth in conflict with the law. Facer presided over the Sudbury Juvenile and Family Court from 1945 to 1964.
