New legislation addressing concerns over unlicensed accommodations received second reading in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The minister responsible, Bernie Davis, says Bill 52 —the new Tourist Accommodation Act— is an improvement on the existing legislation that was brought in in 1970, long before unlicenced accommodations and the sharing economy grew in popularity.

Online platforms like Airbnb have been a source of contention for licenced operators for some time and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador has long lobbied for updated legislation to address short-term unlicensed accommodations.

The new legislation will help support greater equity among operators and will help decrease costs for tourism operators who will not have to pay the Canada Select fees.

It includes an updated definition of a tourist accommodation and removes the licensing requirement by the department for operators.

Offences to the Act will carry fines ranging from $250 to $2000 dollars.