The Ontario Government has provided more details about the independent reviewof the Tarion Warranty Corporation and the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which was announced last November.
The Honourable Douglas Cunningham, the government-appointed reviewer, is to provide a draft report by May 31, 2016 and a final report with recommendations by June 30, 2016. The review will cover the existing home warranty program as well as Tarion’s dispute resolution, licensing, registration, enforcement policies and governance. Among other things, Justice Cunningham will examine and make recommendations with respect to the homeowner’s onus to prove defects, accessibility of information to homebuyers, builders and other stakeholders and whether Tarion should be subject to oversight by the Province’s Auditor General and Ombudsman.
There will be extensive consultations with various stakeholders, including:
• New home owners and the public
• Consumer advocacy groups
• Tarion Warranty Corporation
• Ontario Home Builders’ Association and other industry associations such as the Canadian Condominium Institute
• Various Ontario Government Ministries (e.g. Ministry of Government and Consumer Services, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities)
• Municipal stakeholders (e.g. Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasures of Ontario, Ontario Building Officials’ Association, Large Municipalities Chief Building Officials)
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Dates and locations of public consultations will be provided at a later date.
Anyone wishing to provide feedback as part of the review can send an e-mail to TarionReview@ontario.ca