Lake of Bays establishes MAT Task Force

At its May 13 council meeting, Lake of Bays Council approved a report from staff moving forward with the implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax Task Force.

The task force will help shape the Township’s MAT program, supporting and growing local tourism, states a release issued by the municipality following the meeting.

According to the municipality, staff reviewed eight applications from the public using set guidelines. The group consists of members of council, municipal staff, tourism organizations, and representatives from both large and small accommodation providers.

The group will hold its first meeting in June and continue working throughout the summer.

“Its focus will be developing recommendations on how to use funds and the tourism partnerships the program will support. Staff will present these recommendations to Council in the fall of 2025,” states the release.

If the recommendations from staff are approved by council at that time, the implementation of the Municipal Accommodation Tax could begin in January 2026, according to Morgan Lonsdale, Economic Development Coordinator for the Township.

Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Task Force members
Members of council:
Councillor Robert Lacroix – Vice-Chair
Councillor Michael Peppard

Members representing accommodation providers:
Halley Clover, Executive Director, Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of
Commerce
Val Hamilton, Executive Director, Muskoka Tourism
Bruce Howell, Owner, Colonial Bay Resort
Patti Dryden, Owner, Tally Ho and Short-Term Rental Operator
Andy MacCulloch, Short-Term Rental Operator

Municipal staff members:
Chief Administrative Officer – Geoff Carleton – Chair
Economic Development Coordinator – Morgan Lonsdale
Deputy Clerk – Laura Vaisanen – Secretary

To learn more about the Municipal Accommodation Tax and the Task Force, visit Lakeofbays.on.ca/MAT.

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