Category Archives: Condo Issues

Forged Proxies

PROXY CORRUPTION AT CONDO AGM?

  • Qorum was called – the meeting can start!
  •  62 Proxies and 28 Owners in Attendance records 90
  • How many were for quorom?  None the proxies eliminated quorom.
  • How many included voting?  All 62 because an option for substitution and other non compliance terms were included
  • Corporation Lawyer was the Chair at the AGM cost $500 per hour
  • The Board hides behind the lawyer to look legitimate!!
  • Lawyer refuses question period before the election
  • The Board holds control of the majority 62 proxies !
  • The proxy form is in non compliance to the Condo Act
  • Owners object but Lawyer and Board ignores objection
  • The Board appoint 2 of their friends as scruitineers
  • Ballots are casted; scrutineers count proxsies behind closed doors
  • The Board announces the “New Board Member/s and moves on!!
  • How many proxy and ballot votes for each candidate!!  Who knows?  Only the Board, Property Management and the 2 scrutineers
  • The Board forged 62 proxies before the meeting started!!
  • 28 Owners wasted their time on the (1) single vote for Director for owner-occupied position
  • The Deceitful Board of Directors has MAJORITY VOTE & control
  • The Lawyer puts forward a motion DESTROY Ballots;  of course and doesn’t answer owners about ability to view the Proxies;  of course!!
  • The deceitful Board now has control to ie: manouever contracts, skim monies, hold Owners hostage from receiving Condo documents, place unjustified liens on Owners units, create havoc and spread lies and deceit for their own self gain!!
  • Owners are so afraid they will remain silent!!!!
  • THE BOARD KNOWS THAT THE COAST IS CLEAR !!!

 

Calling on Condo Owners

How do I know what my condo insurance covers

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada and Abacus Data released some research that shows many condo owners are lacking critical knowledge about their insurance coverage, which could lead to costly mistakes.

Here are some of the major findings:

  • 61 per cent of Canadian condominium (“Condo”) owners don’t know or incorrectly assume their building’s insurance will cover damage to another unit from water or fire that originated in their unit
  • 74 per cent of Canadians looking to purchase a condo in the next few years don’t know what their personal insurance cover versus what the condo corporation’s insurance should cover.
  • Only 39 per cent of condo owners and 26 per cent of condo buyers know that the belongings of a roommate or boarder are not covered under their personal condo insurance policies.
  • 21 per cent of condo owners are not aware that the condo corporation’s insurance is responsible for incidents like falling concrete and shattering glass from condominiums.

As a condo owner, there are things you can do to make sure you are protected:

  • Ask your condo board or management company to explain what the building’s insurance policy does or does not cover.
  • Talk to your insurance agent about your policy. Being properly covered can prevent your getting stuck with the bill if your condominium’s policy falls short.
  • Remember that damage done to your car in a garage or belongings in a storage locker are covered under your personal policy and not the building’s policy so you should ensure your coverage properly protects your car and any items you have stored in your locker.
    •   Right now we   (COA)  are partnering with Allstate   Canada to help educate Canadians about their condo insurance.     We’re running a contest to find a   GTA Condo Hero – a concierge, security guard or property manager who   makes a big difference to the lives of condo owners.

You can find out more about this contest

Condo Game on CBC DocZone

 

Condo Game

Date:   November 21st –  CBC DocZone

Don’t Miss it

The Condo Game – a documentary examining the forces at play behind the fastest moving condo market in North America. Nov 21 on CBC Doc Zone.

Description

This documentary from Bountiful Films examines the forces at play behind the fastest moving condo market in North America – Toronto – and discovers that the glittering glass hides a sea of troubles. The first startling revelation for many people will be how very much the condo market is focused on investor profit, not affordable housing. One expert even says that it’s really not primarily a housing market but a commodities play. And that means that average Canadians, just looking for a place to call home, are joining a game for which they don’t have the rule book. The Condo Game, Thurs Nov 21 on CBC Television’s Doc Zone

Follow “The Condo Game”  on Facebook
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The Condo Owners Association (COA Ontario) were delighted to work with Bountiful Films in their production of  “The Condo Game” documentary
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Follow iTunes the “Condo Xpert”
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Condo Act Review Has Flaws

Another problem from Condo Owners, it never ends. It is a true shame that these types of things are happening to condo owners all over the province As you are aware, COA was involved in the condo act review and it has been a concerning process. There are still substantial flaws.  During the process and the over 90% involvement of service related trades may have compromised new recommendations for changes to legislation in particular funding for the CAO Condo Authority of Ontario and the CMRAO Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario.  Are  Condo Owners expected to pay for Property Managers to be licensed?  Interesting, many Property Management Firms  receive monies for their contracts from Condo Corporation and status certificate requestions ie. $125.00  there are many Property Management firms who keep $100.00 and the remainder goes to the online service provider.  The question “Why is this happening when PM is a paid contractual services of the Corporation?” Why does the contract not already include this services of license property managers from licensed firms.

In many situation it is the fault of the Board of Directors who allow Property Managers free rein to do as they please.   The numerous complaints the COA receives from Condo Owners is that they are concerned of kickbacks and overinflated contracts which impacts the financial stability of condo corporations. It could be from either Property Manager, the firms and/or the Board. Unfortunately without condo owners standing up for their rights and joining COA; it is difficult to combat. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of the corporation. Property Management firms are only contractual services and the property manager is delegated by that firm to over see the operations of the corporation ONLY on the instructions of the Board. If you are a past board member you may have been in a position to force changes for a new company but again that decision would have to be with a majority vote so if there is no support of this decision then you may have to call a meeting with 15% owners and try to force changes. Many condo owners feel they may be ostracized and or have more conflicts by complaining but the situation will get worst and there may be concerns on your financials.

If the corporation has broken personal ownership items of a Condo Owner they should be responsible however the Condo Act is self governed which lends itself to abuse and a one side power against Condo owners in many cases. We wish we could give more positive answers to help Condo Owners but there are none because the Condo Act has tremendous Flaws!

COA is always looking for support and volunteers because if we can grow with a strong following as the Teachers Association or any other Associations only then will Condo Owners have a strong voice and government will have no choice but to listen without the constant influence of service related trades protecting their own interest. Condo Owners have to stand up for their rights, it is long overdue!