With a steep decline in business due to the coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb is asking the federal government to provide financial support and tax breaks for its hosts.

First reported by ThinkPol.ca, Airbnb’s letter addressed to deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland dated March 17 stated the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic to the travel industry is akin to the Sept. 11 attacks, and “among the most vulnerable are non-traditional workers,” such as their hosts who hold more than 170,000 properties across the country.

The company wants to see the federal government implement Employment Insurance-type benefits for Airbnb hosts, since EI doesn’t cover self-employment income, and allow hosts to defer taxable income.

Currently, self-employed individuals such as Airbnb hosts are required to collect and remit GST and HST if their self-employment income exceeds $30,000. Airbnb is asking the federal government to temporarily waive this requirement, while allowing them to claim GST/HST tax credits for business expenses. The company is also asking the government to provide an income tax rate reduction and to allow hosts to defer their taxable income.

Thorben Wieditz of Fairbnb Canada, an advocacy group that has long called on stricter regulations on short-term rentals, says “ghost hotel” operators that use the Airbnb platform aren’t paying their fair share in taxes and don’t deserve a bailout. He notes Airbnb itself doesn’t pay Canadian corporate taxes and that Airbnb hosts aren’t subject to the higher commercial property tax rates that hotels are subject to.

“There is very little that comes back from this company,” Wieditz said.

In an email statement, Airbnb director of public policy Alex Dagg says the company is expressing concern for “everyday people who depend on travel and tourism for their livelihood.”

“We identified measures to support these entrepreneurs and welcomed conversation on these or other measures to financially support Canadian short-term rental operators, travel industry solo-entrepreneurs and small businesses during this time of crisis and recovery,” Dagg said.

Airbnb for its part has pledged $250 million U.S. to cover COVID-19-related cancellation costs for hosts worldwide.

Last week, Liberal MP Adam Vaughan expressed his opposition to Airbnb’s request and simply tweeted, “No.”

In a statement Monday morning, Department of Finance spokesperson Anna Arneson wrote: “The government recognizes that some sectors have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to carefully monitor all developments, and take further action in the near term.”

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With files from David Venn