We are concerned business owners and constituents of The Town of South Bruce Peninsula (SBP) that operate private campgrounds in The Town of South Bruce Peninsula municipality. The Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) was passed on March 16, 2021 to be implemented for January 1st of 2022, without any consultation with the local or provincial camping industry. To be clear, this is an additional 4% tax added to all campsites that are rented for less than 30 days.

The Municipal Accommodation Tax being introduced to campsites is unjust, for the campers that are bringing their own accommodation with them, whether it is a tent, tent trailer or recreational vehicle (RV). To charge them an additional 4% tax on top of their reservation fees in private campgrounds will definitely reduce tourism and it will hurt the many local businesses that rely on campers. It also gives any government run facilities (federal, provincial and conservation areas/park a 4% unfair price advantage over privately run campgrounds.

Camping is one of the more economical ways of going on vacation and campers will stop staying in our area due to the higher price of accommodation, due to SBP inclusion of campsites in the MAT. The spirit of intent (from the Provincial Level) of the MAT was to be directed towards roofed accommodations such as hotels, motels and cottage rentals only.  It was our understanding that when the province introduced the MAT in the Municipal Act that campgrounds, and more specifically campsites, were not to be included.

As a region of Ontario that welcomes campers from all over the world, we are concerned about the MAT tax of 4 percent and how it will deter many tourist (local and aboard) and businesses from prospering. The Town of South Bruce Peninsula is the only municipality in Ontario to include campsites in the MAT. Other regions where the MAT has been implemented, campsites have been exempt.

By signing the petition we hope the council will hear us and we ask the SBP council to please reconsider their decision to include Transient Campsites in the MAT program based on the above points.