TORONTO—Tarion has started to phase in new education criteria that all new builders will need to meet as a condition of their registration in Ontario.
The new requirements are expected to enhance Tarion’s existing qualification standards for builders in the province.
The new educational requirements to the registration process will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase having started on Sept. 1.
New builders proposing to build under Ontario Building Code (OBC) Part 9 (residential freehold and low-rise condominium construction), are now required to demonstrate specific educational competencies in addition to Tarion’s existing registration requirements.
The competencies must be achieved by their annual renewal date. The second phase will start Sept. 1, 2016. After that date, achieving the core competencies will be a pre-requisite for registration.
"Tarion ensures that new home builders have the necessary technical and financial competence before they can build new homes. Their skills are essential as they have significant impact on our lives, our environment and our economy as a whole. The new education requirements will hold home builders to a higher standard, and provide more consumer protection to new home buyers while instilling confidence in the industry," said Howard Bogach, Tarion president and CEO in a statement.
Tarion is a private corporation established by statute in 1976, to regulate new home builders and protect the rights of new home buyers.
Tarion administers the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which sets out the warranty protection that new homeowners are entitled to in Ontario.
These new educational requirements do not apply to existing registrants.
The new requirements also do not apply to new applicants looking to build according to Part 3 of the OBC as they are subject to separate registration criteria.
The new educational requirements are based on the Canadian Home Builder’s Association National Education Benchmarks for residential construction and feedback from extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The courses will be offered by third party education providers. The core competencies must be held by at least one of, or shared among, the principals, officers or directors of the company.
The competencies are:
— business planning and management
— financial planning and management
— project management and supervision
— legal issues in housing
— building codes in Ontario
— construction technology
— customer service and Tarion requirements
"The new home construction industry is an important part of Ontario’s economy. Raising the bar for qualification in this industry will positively impact Ontarians and demonstrate that we have a strong, professional and skilled building industry in this province," said David Orazietti, Ontario’s government and consumer services minister, in a statement.
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