Changes to Ontario Condominium Act

On 1 November 2017 the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO) was established. The purpose of the CAO is to:

  • Ensure that Condominium Managers (CMG) are appropriately licensed;
  • Tighten the regulatory environment in which condominium Boards operate;
  • Ensure that condominium Board members are properly trained;
  • Set out a system of information certificates and notices to ensure that condominium owners are properly informed of changes and upcoming meetings;
  • Establish a system for the request for information relating to a particular condominium or unit;
  • Institute rules about corporate records retention; and
  • Establish a dispute resolution system, the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT).

A summary of the changes can be found in the document here. For those owners who want to dive into the details, there is also an online course, described as “Director training”, offered on the CAO website here.

Your condominium Board is working diligently to incorporate all these changes. We invite you as well to visit the CAO website, and explore around to get a sense of this new environment.

OPC Membership Drive

As mentioned in the latest Newsletter, the Botanica Board of Directors wishes to establish the Operations Committee (OPC). The purpose of this email is to solicit volunteer members for the OPC.

The OPC is an important advisory and working committee that will help the VPOPS oversee operational activities, manage Botanica’s Ten-Year Operations Plan and the Master Deficiency and Issue List as well as regularly inspect the complex.

The Ten-Year Operations Plan, to be revised at least once a year, will map out all the operational projects and recurring maintenance activities required to maintain the Botanica complex. The VPOPS and the Committee will monitor the plan and the list and make recommendations to the Board on how it should be updated and implemented.

If you enjoy planning and regularly inspecting and reporting on your surroundings, the OPC is for you. Ideally, but not necessary, you have email and know how to use Microsoft WORD and EXCEL OPC is also a great way to understand how Botanica works in preparation for your future participation on the Board of Directors.

The Terms of Reference of OPC are posted on the website under the Owners tab. You can find them here.

Send an email to vpoperations@botanicacondos.ca indicating the Unit you own and how you would like to participate. A member from each Midrise and one from the Townhouses would make a great Committee.