Pricey cottage rentals may be making labour shortages worse in Ontario beach towns
CBC
23-05-17 09:00
As tourist towns across Ontario see a surge in customer demand ahead of the summer season, many businesses are struggling to find and hire low-wage staff. A report from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce found that 69% of tourist businesses have difficulty recruiting and retaining workers. Meanwhile, the price for seasonal accommodations have been increasing due to soaring demand, leaving business owners little choice but to offer higher wages in order to attract a workforce. Furthermore, the town’s aging stock of cottages, usually favoured by seasonal workers for their cheap rents, are being bought in ever-greater numbers by investors intent on converting them into trendy short-term rentals.