Tourism Golden Advocacy & Policy

Tourism Golden is destination marketing organisation, and the lead organisation for tourism in Golden and CSRD Area A. As such, it is our responsibility to review and evaluate issues brought to us by our industry stakeholders, to determine policy and involvement in matters that disrupt, or negatively impact the tourism industry within our DMO boundary.

Where the Board of Directors support involvement, we engage as necessary with local, regional, and provincial tourism industry stakeholders, and strive to unite stakeholders to advocate for change.

Current issues and policies which are actively supported by the Board of Directors are:

Short Term Rentals
Labour Shortages

 Short Term Rentals

Communications:
2020-Apr-22 - Response from CSRD Board
2020-Feb 27 - Letter to ToG Mayor and Council re Residential zoning for STRs
2020-Jan 30 - Letter to Area A Director re STR management
2020-Jan 3 - Representation at public hearing for ToG Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 1424, 2019 – STR - commercial
2019-Oct 22 - Response from Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing re property tax classification
2019 - Sept 23 - Letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing re property tax classification for STRs
2019 - Sept 12 - Letter to ToG Mayor & Council
2019 - Sept 03 - Delegation presentation to Council  
2019 - Aug - Letter to Minister of Finance to request a review of property tax assessment classification for STRs
2018 - Nov - Mayor Oszust and Director Cathcart attend TG Board meeting
2017 - Aug - Letter to Minister of Finance request to rescind provincial sales tax clause 78(1)(b)
2017 - Aug - Letter to CSRD Area A Director to request lobbying of government to rescind provincial sales tax clause 78 (1)(b)
2017 - Aug - Letter to ToG to request lobbying of government to rescind provincial sales tax clause 78(1)(b)
2016 - June - Paper submitted to Town of Golden council on the Impact of the Sharing Economy

Other Resources:
2023 - Sept The Housing Impact of Short-Term Rentals in BC Regions
2023 - Sept BCHA STR Impact Advocacy webinar

Short Term rentals in the Town of Golden
2020 Dec 1 - Town of Golden approves STR regulations 
2020 Oct 19 Town of Golden briefing note to Council
2019-Nov - Draft STR bylaw & staff briefing note to Council
2017 - Nov - Town of Golden Staff Report
2016 - July - Town of Golden Short Term Rental Discussion Paper 

Labour Shortages:

Labour shortages are increasingly impacting businesses throughout B.C., particularly in small rural tourism-based communities such as Golden whose local populations are unable to meet the labour demands of a high summer season. Revenues in Golden are not reaching full potential as rooms, tables and hours of business are unable to be serviced because of a lack of staff. Business owners and managers experience burn-out as they try to step into the breach to cover unfilled jobs. 
Tourism Golden is actively lobbying the federal and provincial governments to review immigration and labour policies to effectively alleviate the issue, and we would like to hear your own stories that we can take forward as we try to effect change. Please email your comments and feedback to manager@tourismgolden.com

Communications:
2019 Tourism Economic Benefits and the Economic Impacts of Labour Market Challenges in Golden BC
2018-Aug - Letter from Temporary Foreign Workers Directorate - Skill & Employment Branch