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Decision '19.

If the Green party formed government, it would invest millions to address the housing crisis.

The Green party released further details on their housing strategy Thursday, including plans to invest $11 million over two years to support new and accessible housing and a commitment to regulate short-term rentals.

Green Leader Peter Bevan-Baker said the rental market dropped from a 4.8 per cent vacancy rate to a 0.3 per cent vacancy rate in just a few years, thanks to the Liberal government’s failure to plan.

“P.E.I. now has the lowest vacancy rate in the country,” said Bevan-Baker. “Homelessness and inadequate, inappropriate or insecure housing has become a reality for many Islanders. A Green government would tackle the housing crisis with the immediacy it deserves.”

A Green government would also begin to regulate short-term rentals in a manner that will protect long-term housing stock while allowing Islanders to participate in the sharing economy.

Examples of initiatives within the proposed housing fund could include:

Supporting affordable housing builds

Supporting accessible housing builds and upgrades

Support for shelters

Support for skilled trades workers and education

Support for those in emergency housing need

Rent supplements

Land acquisition

Planning, development and consulting costs related to housing development

A Green government would:

Limit listings to a person’s primary residence plus one additional residence

Implement a two per cent service fee on all Airbnb/VRBO room stays, charged at source direct to consumer and remitted to province by online provider via a negotiated agreement

Extend the three per cent accommodation levy to all tourism accommodations province-wide, including bed-and-breakfasts, campgrounds and short-term rentals

Implement a contract of agreement with online service providers requiring an annual fee to operate paid to province, data sharing and analysis and the direct remittance of levies collected on behalf of the province

Other housing commitments include: