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Legislative Update: June 25, 2008
Repeal of Tourist Accommodations Act - FAILS
In late May 2008 the Government of Nova Scotia withdrew the legislation that would repeal the Tourist Accommodations Act. The Tourist Accommodations Act, in force for more than a dozen years, includes the unique provision that bans RVers from staying overnight everywhere in the Province except in licensed private and government campgrounds (1). Repeal of the Act was the foundation of Nova Scotia's new, overall tourism strategy announced by the Provincial Government in late Fall 2007 .
An observer of Provincial politics with extensive knowledge of the Nova Scotia tourism industry provides the following explanation for the repeal's failure: "The Tories (Nova Scotia's current governing political party) could not get support for eliminating the Act, as there were quite a number of operators across the tourism industry spectrum who were concerned that repealing the Act was not well thought out, would not protect the consumer, and pretty much reward those who were ignoring the Act in the first place. So the Tories just withdrew the bill."
Note, the Tory Party does not have a majority in the legislature and needs the votes of members of either the two opposing parties, New Democrats or Liberals, to pass any legislation. The opposing parties were lobbied heavily by tourism establishment operators to not vote for the repeal. Neither party had the heart to vote with the Tories.
I do not know how important a role private campground operators had in 'killing' the repeal of the Tourist Accommodations Act, or if, as a group, they sought to kill it. Campground operators have tended to promote the restrictions in the Act that made 'indiscriminate' RV camping illegal and imposed barriers to the establishment of new private campgrounds. However, the campground component is a very small part of the Nova Scotia tourism industry, and other components have competitiveness issues of their own.
The bad news for RVers wanting to visit Nova Scotia is that the legal prohibition remains against staying overnight anywhere but in approved campgrounds. In addition to limiting an RVer's freedom, this prohibition potentially causes problems for RVers who have to deal with emergencies or who have no place to camp because local campgrounds are full. The "Study of the Effect on RV Tourism of the Overnight Parking Ban in Nova Scotia, 2005", summarized and downloadable in full below, describes in detail the nature and implications of the ban. Also included in the study is the reaction of RVers to the ban, and consequences for the Province's economy.
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(1) A private property owner who does not have a campground license from the Province and allows a 'traveling public' RVer to stay overnight on his/her land, is subject to a substantial fine. To the chagrin of some campground operators such a fine has never been levied; nevertheless, the threat remains.
News Flash: November 27, 2007
Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, annouced that the Government of Nova Scotia intends to repeal the Tourist Accommodations Act during the Spring session of the Legislature. Once the Act is repealed, licensing of accommodation establishments will end. Also ending will be regulation and mandatory inspection of accommodation properties. COMMENT: The current Province-wide ban on RVers staying overnight anywhere but licensed private and public campgrounds is part of the Tourist Accommodations Act (click on Wal-Mart sign, below). Repeal of the Act would remove the ban unless replaced by some other legislated provision. Campground operations are a small part of Nova Scotia's tourism industry, and Nova Scotia's reputation for being 'RV Unfriendly' likely played only a small part, if any, in the Government's motivation for repeal. There is a caution for RVers planning to come to Nova Scotia, however. The present Government is a minority. Although the Government can propose legislative action, passage relies on the cooperation of at least one of the two opposition parties. Even with repeal, RVers will be allowed to park where they wish only with the approval of the property owner. And campground operators may try to impose local zoning restrictions against 'indiscriminate camping'. While the Governmnent's intention to repeal the Tourist Accommodations Act is positive news for RVers, it is still too soon to tell what the result will be.
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