B.C.'s new short-term rental rules could impact organ transplant recipients, advocates say
B.C.'s new short-term rental rules officially came into effect this week and advocates say the new restrictions could have unintended impacts for those getting an organ transplant.
Jude Kornelsen, co-director of the Centre for Rural Health Research, says the province needs to consider accommodation options for those seeking care.
"We do need to facilitate making sure people can get to where the care is," she told CTV News Vancouver. "I think that's the issue at the heart of this."
The short-term rental rules, which came into play on May 1, restrict hosts to renting out space in their primary residence, as well as an additional unit, secondary suite or laneway home on the same property. The restrictions are meant to open up thousands of potential long-term housing units that are currently being offered year-round on apps such as Airbnb and VRBO.
But those coming to the Lower Mainland for a transplant can require several months of after care in the region and hotels are expensive.
In fact, the high cost of accommodation has led to drastic measures for some like Christina Derksen-Unrau. She needs a double lung transplant, but discovered she'd first have to save tens of thousands of dollars to live in Vancouver for three to six months after surgery at Vancouver General Hospital. She temporarily took herself off the transplant list because of that high cost, but has since put herself back on.
Now, with the new short-term rental rules, rural health-care advocates are worried it'll be another barrier for those needing care. While they say they aren't against the restrictions, advocates say they'd like to see some sort of exemption for those seeking medical treatment.
"We just want to make sure that they're not faced with the choice between life and death because they don't have money," Paul Adams, executive director for B.C. Rural Health Network, told CTV News Vancouver.
The province acknowledged that some British Columbians need to travel for transplant surgery and stay in the Lower Mainland. Even so, the province said in a statement the focus has to be getting "more units back into the long-term rental market so (British Columbians) can find an affordable place to call home."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Isabella Zavarise and Michele Brunoro
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Helicopter carrying Iran's hard-line president apparently crashes in foggy, mountainous region
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday, sparking a massive rescue operation in a fog-shrouded forest as the public was urged to pray.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
4 homes lost due to wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C.
A wildfire burning near Fort Nelson, B.C., completely destroyed four homes and damaged six more properties, according to an update from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
French security forces work to regain control of airport highway in violence-scorched New Caledonia
Using armoured vehicles and backhoes to shove aside charred barricades, French security forces worked Sunday to retake control of the highway to the international airport in violence-scorched New Caledonia, shuttered because of deadly unrest wracking the French Pacific archipelago where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'