Good news! Please forward to others who may be interested!

As you may know, Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CPBH) has been encouraging the Ombudsman of Ontario to investigate issues concerning the lack of consumer protection for newly built homes.

We are delighted to advise you that an Ombudsman's investigation is now underway, concerning the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. There are two aspects to this investigation:

* how the Ministry represents itself to the public regarding its relationship with the Tarion Warranty Corporation;
* the degree of consumer protection new homeowners can expect to receive from the Ministry.

Here is what the Ministry's web-site says about its goal: “Our goal at the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is to promote a fair, safe and informed marketplace — one in which your rights as a consumer are fully protected.”

Here is information on the Ombudsman's web-site about his investigation:
http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/welcome.aspx?langID=1

Please note that members of the public who have complaints or information relevant to this investigation are welcome to contact the Ombudsman's office. Please see the link above for the details.

This is your chance - please speak up to try to improve consumer protection in Ontario for newly built homes!

Thanks for the update. I will be asking the Ombudsman of Ontario to investigate the municipal building inspectors while he is doing his investigation on this subject

If you have had any problems with your municipalities building inspectors, or their office please file a brief with the Ombudsman's Office ....I am

The Ombudsman of Ontario has issued his report concerning the "Investigation into how the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services represents its relationship with Tarion Warranty Corp. to the public". It may be found at this link on the Ombudsman's site:

http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/UploadFiles/File/TarionFinal.pdf

While the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over Tarion currently, this report also provides some very interesting insights into Tarion's operations and related concerns from Government of Ontario officials. For example, the report says that according to senior Ministry staff, "...much still needs to be done in order for Tarion to meet the government's and the public's expectations" (p. 11). The report goes on to say that "this sentiment was echoed in a recent letter from Minister Ted McMeekin(the Minister as of October 30, 2007) to senior staff at Tarion." (p. 11).

CPBH encourages those interested in these issues to read this entire Ombudsman's report entitled "Building Clarity".

I want to thank the Canadians for Properly Built Homes for getting the Ombudsman of Ontario to investigate the relationship of Tarion with the builders, and the government. It is hoped that after this investigation Tarion will not be a builders protection agency paid for by the home buyer.

I have found that the builders just laugh at the municipal building inspectors, they the builders get an occupancy permit for the home, and if the homebuyer complains about things that do not meet the Ontario Building Code ....the builder laughs and says the home passed inspection. And if you go to Tarion...they say the home meets code because it was passed by the municipality ...your stonewalled.

I really think that the Ombudsman should investigate the municipal building inspectors...if they were doing there job properly we would not be in the position we are now. Most of the building inspectors in Norfolk County are either negligent. or incompetent, and not trained in how to to an inspection according to the Ontario Building Code.

I will post separately an inspection that I had done on the plumbing in my new home on the potable and waste water sysyems. This inspection was costly because this inspector I used is is classed as an expert witness by the courts. The inspector could not believe all the violations of the Sect. 7 of the Ontario Building Code.

To the Canadians for Properly Built Homes , thanks for your hard work...and if any of you homeowners have problems ...post them here...and try to make a small donation to keep Canadians for Properly Built Homes alive and well.