by: Linda Pinizzotto, DStG – Dame Order of St George – Founder CEO COA – Condo Owners Association
Stronger Ontario Building Codes to keep Condo Owners Safe
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, Kathleen Wynne has announced changes to strengthen the Ontario building code to help prevent balcony glass of newly constructed buildings from breaking and keep Ontarians safe in high-rise buildings.
http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2012/06/ontario-strengthens-requirements-for-balcony-glass.html
While this initiative is an excellent start, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing needs to address the inefficiencies of the New Home Warranty Program and Tarion Warranties for new construction and the limited 1-2 years warranties on existing buildings. These warranties do not protect the value of a $80 Million dollar condo building when the time period and list of coverages are similar to those of a single family dwelling. There needs to be a separate coverage to address multi-family residential condominium buildings.
Today’s announcement relating to new Ontario rules and better building codes to prevent glass from breaking off high-rise Balconies was another example of how COA is helping Condo Owners. COA worked with CBC news “throw-away buildings: Toronto’s glass condos. Falling glass from balconies from several buildings in downtown Toronto created major issues of safety concerns for owners and the general public. The Condo Owners Association – (COA) reported problems relating to glass balconies and deficiencies relating to energy efficiency supporting a CBC special featured story by John Lancaster.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/11/13/tor-glass-walled-condos.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0a9q_DqF1o
Value issues relate are affected by unwarranted costs relating to premature deficiencies which fall past the minimal and limited Tarion Warranties. COA has played a very active role in moving forward for a better understanding of the problems and bringing this information to the forefront. Cam Wooley’s “Know your Rights” on CP24 welcomes our input as well as Matt Galloway – CBC Metro Morning in conversation with Linda Pinizzotto, Founder, President/CEO of the Condo Owners Association about the risks condo owners face and the limited protection they have. Listen (runs 6:54)
RADIO
http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2102259830
CBC NEWSBROADCASTING ON CBC NEWS AND THE NATIONAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZglE1czXyo
COA continues to work with Government to embrace the issues to help Condo owners ensure their safety, investment sustainability and good business infrastructure of the condo world.
The mass construction of Condominiums in the past few years has identified over 1.3 million Condo Owners in our Province. Last Friday, our Ministry of Consumer Services announced “Building a Better Condo Act” to modernize the present Condo Act (1998). The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing needs to participate to embrace resolutions to the Act relating to safety and better construction standards. Specific requirements and restrictions relating to the construction aspect of new and existing Condo Corporations.
All information and comment on articles geared to Condo Owners and Condominiums should include comment from COA Ontario as the governing body of COAtoronto, COAmississauga, COAottawa etc. COA has chapters in each City across Ontario
– See more at: http://www.oreablog.com/2012/06/ontario-government-introduces-stricter-requirements-for-balcony-glass/#sthash.MSPIFjTH.dpuf
