District of Sooke Invites Applications for MRDT Tourism Advisory Committee

The District of Sooke is inviting applications for its new Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Tourism Advisory Committee. 

Applications are open until midnight on Thursday, July 9, 2026. 

The committee will advise Council on the use of MRDT funds to support tourism marketing, visitor services, destination development, sector collaboration, and community benefit. The District is seeking members with a range of perspectives from Sooke’s tourism and community sectors, including accommodation, arts and culture, outdoor recreation, agri-tourism and culinary experiences, Indigenous communities, visitor services, local business, youth, and related areas. 

“The MRDT Program gives Sooke a dedicated, visitor-supported funding source to invest in tourism in a way that reflects local priorities, strengthens our visitor economy, and supports efforts to grow Sooke’s commercial tax base,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “By bringing local experience, ideas, and perspectives to the table, this committee will help ensure tourism continues to support local businesses, bolster our local economy, and benefit the broader Sooke community.”  

The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Program is a provincial program that allows participating communities to collect a tax on eligible short-term accommodation sales. In Sooke, MRDT is collected through local accommodations include hotels and short term rental at a rate of three per cent. It provides a dedicated, visitor-supported funding source for approved tourism-related initiatives. 

Sooke’s participation in the MRDT Program follows Council’s endorsement of the District’s application package in 2025 and subsequent approval by the Province. The committee will help guide this work by reviewing plans, budgets, reporting requirements, and priorities before recommendations are brought forward to Council. 

Learn more about the committee, and how to apply: