Suggestions to Improve the MB Condo Act - Summer 2021

Article from Volume 8, Issue Number 3, 2021

Suggestions to Improve the MB Condo Act - Summer 2021

By Alan Forbes | Other articles by Alan Forbes | Regular Column

We encourage you to submit suggestions for improving the Provincial Condo Act to us via https://cci-manitoba.ca/resources/the-condominium-act-suggestions-for-improvement. We have started posting these ‘suggestions for improvement’ in our quarterly Condominium News and Views. In case you missed the improvement suggestions in the prior editions, have a look at the Fall 2020, Winter 2021 and Spring 2021 editions at https://cci-manitoba.ca/members-only/newsletter-archive

The Province has a useful website with a guide to the Act and links to the Act itself, and the associated regulation and various related forms. The website link is
https://www.gov.mb.ca/condo/.

Recent Suggestions for Improvement & Questions

While we have not received any new suggestions for improvement in the past quarter, our Government Relations Committee has started reviewing them and will develop position papers as appropriate for when the Provincial Government is ready to consider updates to the legislation. For more details, have a look at the year-end report from the Committee elsewhere in the newsletter.

We did receive an email from one of our members though …

“This is an observation rather than a suggestion.

I was already residing in my condo when the new Act came into force and was pleased to see that future buyers would be so well informed before any purchase was finalized. However, over the years I have had occasion to view what newer residents received when they purchased their units and find that, regardless of whether or not the Table of Contents indicates all the right documentation is being provided, some relevant items are frequently omitted or incorrectly completed.

I realize both seller and buyer sign affidavits confirming all documentation was provided and received but it doesn't appear anyone who actually understands the relevance of the documentation is checking into the matter.

Since most purchasers have had no experience in the matter, I would assume the onus is on realtors and lawyers but don't know if anyone is actually held accountable.

Thank you for your service.”

CCI Manitoba would be interested in your thoughts in regards to the above email.

Alan Forbes
Chair, Communications Committee