The Pacific Condominium Association of B.C.

presents its first seminar of our 2010-2011 season

Strata Council 101: Roles, Responsibilities and Procedures for Strata Presidents and Council Members

Speaker: Gerry Blanchard, President, Crossroads Property Management

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location:  The Pantry Restaurant – 18^th Ave & 152^nd, South Surrey

PCA Members: $25 Non-members $40

Register by phone at  604-538-8888 between 1 and 4 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday or Friday.

Please bring this notice to the attention of your fellow owners. Remember they are all members of the Association because of your strata corporation’s membership.

We especially urge Councils to send along new or prospective Councillors, who will find this a most informative and useful session. We are fortunate to have Gerry do this for us. He has done several seminars for us and they have consistently been skilfully presented and well-received.

We will be closing the Pacific Condominium Association's office for the months of June and July, and open again in August. Part of the reason is that we have two Board Members who will be away in June. August should be a regular month of taking calls etc.

Rita Enns, President

Pacific Condominium Association of B.C.

Tentative Education Program 2010/2011.

Venue is usually the Pantry Restaurant 18 Avenue & 152 Street

Please call 604-538-8888 for details.

April 24, 2010. Registration at 9:30, meeting at 10 a.m.

Annual General meeting. Home andTentative Education Program 2010/2011. Strata ‘staging’ for better selling results.

September 25, 2010.

Condo 101. Designed for all Strata Owners but a great asset for new council members. Gerry Blanchard.

October 30, 2010.

Home Inspectors Perspective on the Importance of Strata Maintenance Records.

November 27, 2010.

The importance of a healthy Fire Place. Who is responsible? Strata Owner or Strata Council. Kim Schmidt, Sure Fire Gas Services.

January 29, 2011.

Roofing Maintenance and Replacement. Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association. Monty Richings & Hazelmere Roofing. Two Vendors to discuss types of roofing. Cedar and Membrane roofing.

February 26, 2011.

Home Staging. Accenture and Home Staging Design Group

March 26, 2011.

Three Lawyer Panel. Clark Wilson, Shawn Smith and another to be Announced.

April 30, 2011.

Annual General Meeting. Home Owner Protection Office.

Privacy Act Changes, deadline February 28th. Click here  17.95 Kb to read the details.

From: bcstratachanges [mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]
Sent: September 27, 2009 12:28 AM
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Subject: Proposed Strata Property Act Changes - Legislature Debate Begins Without Public Consultation

Dear Strata Owner,

After reading this important message please forward it to strata owners you know.

On September 24 the BC Legislature began debate on Bill 8 - The Strata Property Amendment Act, 2009 even though there has been no consultation with the strata owning public. The BC government has issued no invitation for public input, no discussion paper was circulated for public feedback and no public meetings were held with strata owners. It is as if the government considers strata owners to be mere “subjects” and unworthy of any consultation on the legislation that directly affects them and their most important investments, their homes.

After Minster Rich Coleman started the debate on Thursday, four opposition members (Shane Simpson, Spencer Herbert, Michael Sather and Mike Farnworth) spoke about the lack of public consultation with strata owners and the narrow focus of the Bill. (You can read this brief debate at http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/39th1st/H0924pm-05.pdf starting at line [1630] on page 824.)

With the Legislature adjourned until after the UBCM convention, the debate cannot continue until 2:30PM on October 5 at the earliest. This gives the concerned strata owner a week to send a brief email (or postal letter) to the Premier and Minister Rich Coleman demanding consultation with the strata owning public. Their email addresses are:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sample letters are available at www.bcstratachanges.ca Also, the recently released VISOA "Commentary on Bill 8" could help you with points to add in your email. The Commentary can be viewed under "Legislation Issues" on the VISOA website (http://visoa.bc.ca/static/bill8comments.pdf).

Also, when Bill 8 debate resumes on or after October 5, you can tune in on the Provincial Legislature channel on cable TV or view the debate on your computer through the "webcast". You can find the "webcast" link or the Shaw cable TV channel for your area by visiting http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/8-10.htm (In Vancouver the cable TV channel number is 115, in Victoria it is 113 and on Vancouver Island north of Victoria it is 108).

Your support is needed to achieve legislation that serves the interests of strata owners.

Sincerely,

Deryk Norton
Editor

www.bcstratachanges.ca

On October 6 the BC Government passed Bill 8 - The Strata Property Amendment Act, 2009, without amendment. The Official Opposition did make a motion to put the Bill on hold for 6 months for public consultation. However, the motion was voted down by Government Members.

Bill 8 can be viewed at http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th1st/1st_read/gov08-1.htm. Although this Bill falls far short of what is needed and is not based on a transparent consultation process involving strata owners, it will affect you. The legislation will come into effect through regulations yet to be determined by the Government. This may occur in stages, with some parts of Bill 8 (such as changes to section 143 of the SPA) coming into effect on January 1, 2010 and other parts coming into effect later.

Please watch the website for further updates.

Deryk Norton
Editor

www.bcstratachanges.ca