Changes to Condo Act will offer greater protection for residents, Liberals say
Queen’s Park is proposing greater protection to the more than one million condo dwellers in Ontario, according to an announcement planned for Thursday.
Proposed changes to the 15-year-old Condominium Act follows a year-long review by government and industry officials and condo owner representatives. Among other things, the province is planning to introduce mandatory qualifications for condominium managers, the first of several changes expected to aid condominium owners, tenants, and buyers. “There is an overwhelming consensus that condominium managers be qualified and licensed to carry out their significant responsibilities. One in 10 people in Ontario live in a condominium and their quality of life depends to a great degree on qualified, well-trained condominium managers,” said Consumer Services Minister Tracy MacCharles, who will hold a news conference Thursday in Toronto’s Liberty Village.
Condominiums represent about 50 per cent of all new homes built in Ontario, with about 10 per cent of the province’s population calling a condominium home. There are about 600,000 condominium units with 9,000 condominium corporations.
Linda Pinizzotto, president and founder of the Condo Owners Association of Ontario, told Torstar Wednesday her group agrees “that condominium management companies and condominium managers need to have a government licensing structure.”
The ongoing review is looking at what mandatory qualifications there should be for condominium managers and how to oversee licensing and standards. A final report is expected by the end of the summer.
Even though many managers are responsible for buildings worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, with matching operating budgets, they are not required to have training or an understanding of the Condominium Act.
“On behalf of the Association of Condominium Managers and more than 800 registered condominium managers, we are pleased that the government recognizes the importance of a regulated condominium management profession,” said Dean McCabe, vice-president operations, Wilson Blanchard Management Inc., and past president, Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario.
Toronto NDP MPP Rosario Marchese, longtime champion of condominium law reform, saw his hopes for a private member’s bill dealing with condo protection dashed last fall when then-premier Dalton McGuinty prorogued the legislature.
Under his proposed law, there would be a condo review board, a tribunal to resolve disputes among owners, condominium boards, property managers, and developers.
APR
2012
About the Author:
Linda Pinizzotto represents Buyers and Sellers in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville and surrounding areas. She is an award winning, popular and very well known Realtor who is extremely passionate about her profession. She has excellent real estate market knowledge which reflects in her successes with over 30 years experience. Linda Pinizzotto values her clients and reputation, making sure they receive first class advice and information and expertise and protecting their interest every step of the way.