Kelowna councillor asks if short-term rental rules should be loosened amid trade war – Okanagan [Video]

Kelowna, B.C.’s waterfront is still on the quieter side, but it won’t be long before tourists start arriving.

This year the Okanagan could be in for an especially busy tourism season and the valley’ s many attractions aren’t the only reasons.

“There’s also that sense of Canadian, Canadianism right now,” said Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Association.

Many Canadians are avoiding travel to the United States amid the trade war.

B.C. Premier David Eby even encouraged vacationing closer to home when possible.

“Where you have a choice, please choose to travel in Canada,” Eby said at a recent news conference.

With more Canadians expected to vacation in B.C.,  questions are being raised whether provincial restrictions on short-term rentals, which were implemented last May,  should be loosened.

At Monday’s Kelowna council meeting, Coun. Ron Cannan suggested council consider encourage the province to relax the rules, at least for this upcoming …