CMRAO Quarterly: Winter 2020

Winter 2020 | Vol. 2 | Issue 1

CMRAO’s Advisory Committee – Input from Ontario’s Condominium Sector

In the Spring of 2019, the CMRAO convened the first meeting of the Advisory Committee, whose members represent different points of view within the condominium management sector. Members are appointed by the CMRAO’s Board of Directors, serve on a voluntary basis, and are expected to provide input on a range of issues that are important to consumers and related to the CMRAO’s core mandate.

Advisory Committee members are from regions across the province, including Burlington, Huntsville, Kingston, London, Ottawa, St. Catharines, Stoney Creek, and Toronto. From nearly forty expressions of interest, twenty individuals from a variety of backgrounds were appointed to serve a two-year term. Half the committee is composed of condominium managers with a range of experience in the sector, and the other half of the committee is composed of non-managers (board directors, lawyers, accountants, and condominium residents) who represent the condominium sector as a whole.

Early last year, the CMRAO established a group of subject-matter experts (SMEs) to assist in the creation of a competency profile and a set of full-spectrum professional competencies for the condominium management profession in Ontario. The work was done in preparation for November 2021, when the authority for education requirements will be transferred from the Minister of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) to the Registrar of the CMRAO. To date, the Advisory Committee’s work has focused on providing feedback on the work of the SMEs. Thanks to the committee’s dedication to their role, tremendous progress was made in a relatively short time.

“I’m really proud to support condo managers in shaping new educational requirements for their profession,” said Chris Jaglowitz, a lawyer working in the condominium sector. “I am glad to see that managers are so well represented in the diverse group of stakeholders CMRAO has convened. I can also report that the discussions have been wide ranging, deep, and thoughtful. The end product will closely reflect the realities of being a condominium manager, uphold the best values of condo managers, and serve the public interest.”

Chris Jaglowitz, Condominium Lawyer

Debbie Dale, Condominium Manager

Debbie Dale, one of the condominium managers on the committee had a similar view. “The overall goals of the CMRAO appear clearer to me as a result of my participation,” she said. “As a professional property manager with a substantive career platform, it is quite interesting to observe other property managers and listen to their expressions of similar challenges. I would define the experience as positive and informative.”

“I enjoyed being part of the conversation between a diverse group of property managers, condo lawyers, condo owners, and condo directors as we debated the merits of specific competencies,” said Raj Malik, a condo owner and board director. “Although there wasn’t complete agreement on the specific wording of some of the competencies, there was agreement on the intent of each competency based on what is, or should be, the right thing for property managers to do or the right way for them to behave.”

Christine Dingemans, Condominium Owner

Raj Malik, Condominium Owner

Christine Dingemans, a condo owner, expressed a similar sentiment. “Although I was prepared for a long, boring day, I was pleasantly surprised to have experienced an informative, interactive, and engaging day with a sense of accomplishment,” she said. “I was impressed with the amount of work already done by the SMEs, which allowed the Advisory Committee members to use their expertise to refine and vet the information provided.”

What’s next for the Advisory Committee?

Work on the competency profile is now complete and will be published by the CMRAO in the Spring of 2020. The committee will continue to provide feedback and recommendations on other regulatory issues, including the development of licensing policies, future education activities, communication materials, and other topics that may influence the consumer experience as it relates to condominium management services.

“Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time familiarizing myself with our governing documents and the Condo Act. While talking with other condo owners and reading various condo blogs, it became apparent to me quite quickly that condos are complex entities,” said Raj. “It was also apparent that most people don’t have the time, tools, or knowledge to help manage their condo corporations properly or deal with issues that negatively impact their community. Condo managers and management companies, therefore, are relied upon to be knowledgeable, provide good guidance, and apply the rules and regulations of the condo corporation equally to maintain a fair and well-functioning community.”

In just a short time, the CMRAO has already benefitted from the feedback and passion of Advisory Committee members who are committed to elevating Ontario’s condominium management sector.

Licensing Update

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Complaints Webinar

The CMRAO hosted its third webinar on November 14, 2019. Hosted by Ali Arlani, CEO and Registrar, and Sandy Vizely, Deputy Registrar, the webinar focused on the CMRAO’s complaints process.

There were 274 registrants, of which 160 attended. Although the webinar was geared to licensed condominium managers, the public webinar was an opportunity for anyone interested in CMRAO’s complaints process to learn more and ask questions. A recording of the webinar is now available on the CMRAO website.

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The CMRAO's new blog provides relevant, timely, and valuable information to help condo managers better understand their role as licensed professionals. Here are some recent posts:

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