Les Amis will be at the Village Church on Friday, April 10, at 5:00 p.m. for the Ville’s presentation regarding the proposed project for the Village sector.
The previous administration supported the sale of municipal assets in the Village to a Gatineau cooperative. The new administration is currently studying this project. If approved, it will be done under Bill 31—which deprives citizens of their right to a referendum—in order to forcibly change the zoning of certain Village streets reserved for single-family homes (H-1). They cite a housing crisis, but Statistics Canada reveals a very different reality. This is not a lack of housing; it is a lack of management:
The Striking Gap: In Mont-Tremblant, 16.37% of the total housing supply consists of Potential Long-Term Housing (PLTD) used exclusively for Short-Term Rentals (STR). This figure is staggering compared to other renowned destinations: it is only 1.04% in Bromont, another mountain town, and 2.17% in Banff, an international tourism icon.
An Alarming Imbalance: Elsewhere in the country, the national average is only 0.69%, while the average for Québec as a whole stands at 0.51%. With a rate of 16.37%, Mont-Tremblant diverts its residential inventory 32 times more than the Québec average.
A Sad Record: In proportion to its housing stock, Mont-Tremblant ranks 1st in Québec and 2nd in Canada for the percentage of units sacrificed to short-term rentals (STR). While Whistler holds the top spot (#1 in Canada), it is certainly not an example to follow: devoid of local residents, it has become a mere tourist resort. This is not the solution we want for Mont-Tremblant.
The Warning Signal: Being number one in Québec means that 16.37% of all housing units—roughly one in six homes—acts as a mini-hotel instead of housing permanent residents.
This 16.37% Rate is Alarming: The definition of PLTD already excludes cottages, vacation homes, and unconventional dwellings. This figure specifically targets residential units (houses, condos, apartments) that could house our residents starting tomorrow.
The Solution is in the Ville’s Hands: Before resorting to the exceptional powers of Bill 31, the Ville must address the more than 1,000 housing units already removed from the long-term rental market by:
Enforcing the Rules: Cracking down rigorously on illegal short-term rentals.
Limiting STRs: Capping the number of permits and incentivizing a return to long-term rentals.
Our point of view: Mont-Tremblant does not need to bypass urban planning rules in sensitive sectors, particularly along lakefronts, where rigorous, sustainable, and respectful planning must remain the priority. Our leaders simply need to better manage the housing we already have.
About Les Amis de Mont-Tremblant
Our mandate is to ensure the harmonious real estate development of the region while maintaining transparency and community acceptability.