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?
top contents chapter previous next