Overview
The Township of Centre Wellington is moving forward with the implementation of a Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) — a modest fee applied to overnight stays in local hotels, motels, and other short-term accommodations. This tax is paid by visitors, providing an opportunity for them to contribute to maintaining and improving the local amenities they enjoy. The MAT will have no direct impact on residents or accommodation owners/operators.
MAT revenues will be reinvested into tourism initiatives and maintaining and improving the Township infrastructure assets that benefit both tourists and residents. This will strengthen and grow our visitor economy while reducing reliance on property taxes.
In September, Township Council approved the next steps to implement the MAT by establishing a new 100% Township-owned Municipal Services Corporation (MSC). In addition to administering the MAT program, this arms-length corporation will be focused on driving new jobs and investment and optimizing the value of tourism to our community.
Next steps are as follows:
| Step 1 | Design the preferred organizational model |
| Step 2 | Prepare a business case study to create a municipal service corporation |
| Step 3 | Invite feedback from the community |
| Step 4 | Produce articles of
corporation, bylaws, and agreements |
Reporting Back
Once the engagement and draft documents are complete, staff will report back to Council for final approval before the new corporation is officially created.
These steps will help ensure the MAT is implemented effectively and that local tourism and economic growth are supported by a dedicated organization working in partnership with the community.
