[Date]

The Honourable Christy Clark

PO BOX 9041 STN PROV GOVT

Dear Ms. Clark:

I am one of over 700,000 British Columbians affected by strata legislation that does not adequately protect my rights as a strata owner.

In 2009 the BC government passed Bill 8 – The Strata Property Amendment Act to help real estate developers build all-rental condo buildings while making a few improvements in strata financial reporting and resolution of disputes. However, many serious issues remain, arising from the government’s focus on pleasing the real estate industry while shutting strata owners out of the consultation process. Bill 8 arose from closed-door "confidential" and "private" communication between the government and its selection of real estate industry insiders. It is outrageous that the government showed such contempt for democracy by excluding strata owners from input and then leaving them with such poor legislation.

BC’s weak legislation is leading to far too many preventable strata problems. A few of the critical issues are:

1. Absence of an enforceable code of ethics and conduct for strata property managers that advise and sometimes control strata councils while ignoring the rights of strata owners, and
2. Lack of specific offences and penalties to protect strata owners from those who refuse to act according to law, protection provided to condo owners in Alberta and Ontario,
3. Lack of penalties for misrepresentation by a strata developer, and
4. [This list of concerns to be amended by the strata owner.]

I urge you to immediately begin a public consultation process that will listen to the needs of strata owners. This is an opportunity for you to make good on your leadership campaign commitments for democratic reform and putting "families first".

Sincerely,

[Strata owner name]