Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario incorporated

Below is a letter from the current (October 2016) Minister of Government and Consumer Services addressed to ACMO, a condo industry association for managers and management companies.

Condo Act Update: Letter from Minister of Government and Consumer Services
ACMO
(originally printed in CM Magazine, Fall 2016, p. 11)

On June 13, I was appointed as Ontario’s Minister of Government and Consumer Services by Premier Kathleen Wynne. I am honoured to serve in this role and eager to press ahead with the government’s consumer-first agenda, including the reforms begun by my predecessor, the Honourable David Orazietti. I am keen to continue building our government’s Consumer Protection Ontario brand and promote a fair, safe and informed marketplace for consumers and businesses.

As you may know, the Protecting Condominium Owners Act, 2015 received Royal Assent on December 3, 2015. This new law is the product of the government’s comprehensive review of the old Condominium Act and provides better protection for Ontario’s 1.3 million condo residents.

Building healthy and sustainable condo communities requires an approach based on collaboration and compromise with our partners. This new law would not have been possible without ACMO’s active participation. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

The next step in our condo reform that will be of most interest to ACMO members is the creation of an administrative authority (AA) to administer the Condominium Management Standards Act, 2015. The AA will be responsible for the mandatory licensing regime for condo managers and providers. Our goal is to have the AA up and running by July 1, 2017.

During the next year, my Ministry will work with the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario, a non-for-profit corporation incorporated in July and Intended to be designated as the AA, on educational requirements for condo managers consistent with the proposed regulations being developed. We will also be having discussions on how to collect accurate data regarding existing condo managers and management providers, to prepare the corporation to implement the licensing regime and charge fees.

Licensing condominium managers and condominium management providers through a self-funded, independent administrative authority is a key element of our government’s consumer protection  plan. Features of the new licensing regime include conflict of interest disclosure, a code of ethics, and a discipline committee to review code of ethics violations.

Ontario now has more than 750,000 condo units and 10,000 condo corporations. More than half of new homes under construction in the province are condos and about 1 in 10 Ontarians live in a condo. This legislation supports the long- term sustainability of condominium living.

I look forward to meeting the membership and executive of ACMO in the near future, and to continuing our mutually beneficial and productive relationship in the months ahead.

Minister Lalonde Marie-France Lalonde
Minister of Government and Consumer Services and MPP (Ottawa—Orléans)

Comments
In the first paragraph, the minister incorrectly credits her predecessor David Orazietti for beginning the present reforms to the Condo Act. This is an error. Margaret Best was the minister when the Liberals introduced the new Bill in Queens Park but the true father of this new Act is Rosario Marchese who tried for years to get the Condo Act updated.

I find the reference to "our partners" and the minister looking forward "to meeting the membership and executive of ACMO in the near future, and to continuing our mutually beneficial and productive relationship in the months ahead" troubling.

Isn't this like her meeting with the wolves and not with the sheep?

The interests of condominium owners and the interests of the condo industry political lobby groups differ. Management licencing and a disciplinary committee are required because property management is a source of many condo owner complaints. Isn't that correct?

When will the consumer services minister be meeting condo owners who are the consumers? Never?

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