The CBC have reported that the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) is ignoring consumers’ complaints and allowing builders to continue with  “business as usual”. Builder relicensed despite unfinished homes This is a reminder that there is little if any protection for homeowners in BC.  For more than 25 years before the HPO was even in existence [...]

Sixty-nine per cent of B.C. homeowners believe that ‘mortgage rates will be higher in one year’s time’, and ninety-nine per cent agree that ‘homebuyers need to think ahead and be sure that if rates rise they will still be able to pay their mortgage,’ according to the 17th Annual RBC Homeownership Survey, conducted by Ipsos [...]

At the  Port Moody City Council meeting last week David Spence, an avid promoter of community arts, gave a presentation to the leaders of the “City of the Arts”. Coastal Sound Music Academy choirs from the Tri-Cities were well represented during the weeks of the Olympic and Paralympic GAMES. The Children’s Choir sang at a [...]

Re/max has recently been practicing pure “puffery”, conducting a national radio and TV advertising campaign that claims they are, “Canada’s Favourite Agents”. While new agents are taught that you can’t make such claims unless the source or basis on which the claim is based accompanies the ad, most tenured agents know better. Since any claims [...]

Since there was no remaining meaningful consumer protection activities or responsibilities being conducted at the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), it is no surprise to learn that the HPO is quietly closing its doors. HOMEOWNER PROTECTION ACT RESPONSIBILITIES TRANSFERRED The announcement last summer that the HPO interest-free loan program (designed to keep Leaky Condo owners in [...]

“End of an Era” is a national commemorative ceremony honouring all of Canada’s First World War service men and women.  Arras, Amiens, Passchendaele, the Somme, Vimy and Ypres, where thousands of Canadians fought and died more than 90 years ago, was an era that transformed our identity as a country. Minister of Veterans Affairs, The [...]

The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics have been an amazing experience. People walking the Downtown during the Games mostly described it as “electric”, and I certainly felt it. I saw the stunned surprise and glowing delight of international visitors from every continent as they took in Vancouver and reveled in the excitement. Sitting in the German [...]