"Letter to Finance Minister"

  • [Date]
  • [Strata owner address]
  • The Honourable Colin Hansen
  • Minister of Finance
  • Room 152
  • Parliament Buildings
  • Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Dear Mr. Hansen,

Re: Bill 8 Ignores Abuses by Developers and Strata Managers

[Strata owner’s personal strata experience].

     Although responsibility for the Strata Property Act was shifted to another Ministry, I understand that you remain responsible for the Real Estate Services Act (that sets licensing standards and discipline for strata managers) and the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (that sets down requirements for strata developers). These statutes may be working well for unscrupulous developers and strata managers but they are not working well for people like me who must live in a strata development.

     Although the recent Bill 8 may improve access to dispute resolution mechanisms and disclosure of strata information, several serious issues remain that must be addressed through amendment of the above-named statutes. Some of theses issues are:

  • 1. Lack of protection from developers engaged in fraudulent misrepresentation,
  • 2. Absence of an enforceable code of ethics and conduct for strata property managers who are in a position of trust to advise but sometimes control strata councils or abuse strata owners, and
  • 3. Lack of deterrence for developer and strata manager actions that violate the law,
  • 4. [Above list of concerns to be amended by the strata owner.]

    •      It is long past time for your government to engage in transparent public consultation on strata legislation. The “private” and “confidential” communication between Ministry officials and a limited selection of real estate industry insiders was the basis for Bill 8 and does not constitute “public” consultation. I am very disappointed that you have shown such contempt for strata owners that you have not used a democratic process for reviewing the legislation that affects me and many other strata owners.

         I am one of over 600,000 British Columbians affected by weak legal protection for strata owners.

         I urge you to announce an immediate and public review of the inadequacies of the Real Estate Services Act and the Real Estate Development Marketing Act.

    Sincerely,

    [Strata owner name]