ACMO Engages with the Ontario Government on Behalf of Its Members.
In recent weeks ACMO representatives have been busy engaging various levels of government and government agencies to provide feedback on issues impacting the condominium industry. Earlier this month, ACMO sent a detailed letter to the Auditor General of Ontario, Bonnie Lysyk, providing commentary and suggestions relating to the 2020 Value for Money Audit, “Condominium Oversight in Ontario,” published in December. The audit proposed 20 recommendations to improve the efficacy of the CAO and the CMRAO and provide better consumer protection. The letter was a follow-up to ACMO’s extensive consultations last year with the Office of the Auditor General staff regarding the audit.
On April 12, 2021, Conservative MPP Aris Babikian introduced a motion in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario proposing that the government launch stakeholder consultations about expanding the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT) to better protect the interests of condominium owners. The motion was approved. In the presentation of his motion, Mr. Babikian related a number of condo owner complaints and characterized a “David-and-Goliath” struggle between condo owners and condo management corporations. His motion echoed many of the issues identified in the Auditor General’s audit report. ACMO representatives met with Mr. Babikian to provide feedback from a condominium management perspective and offer ACMO’s expertise in any ongoing consultations. ACMO urged Mr. Babikian to take a more holistic view of the industry to better understand and address the underlying problems driving complaints referred to the CAT.
On April 22, 2021, Tarion representatives met with ACMO to solicit feedback on recommendations in the Auditor General’s Tarion audit published in October. ACMO provided input on several options they are assessing for a new customer service standard, policies for unfinished items at the time of possession, information sharing with municipalities, and warranty provisions for homeowners forced to relocate during repairs. Tarion encouraged ACMO members to provide feedback to their ongoing consultations through their website.
In the coming weeks and months, ACMO will continue its efforts to engage the government to help inform future policy and legislation impacting the condominium management profession.
