Ontario Home Inspector Licensing

[George A. H. Luck]

Bill, with all due respect, there is much going on behind closed doors of which you are apparently unaware. Remember the best way to get a politician interested in a non-issue is to make a big noise about it, have a few meetings and convince them that there is a problem that they can 'fix' ( with the help of those who made the noise of course)

But you are right. None of us want to be licensed without input and we should all be involved in showing the government that the 'facts' and statistics that they will be presented with are out of date, inaccurate and not representative of the industry in the 21'st century.

If you are as serious as you seem to be, Bill, perhaps you will tell us who the "provincial representatives" are so that those of us who are unable to attend can contact them with our concerns.

[bmullen]

George:

If I knew which VIP's were attending, the names would be out there. We have contacted several and we have received some positive responses. However, so far they all seem to be weighing how much political hay they can make for themselves before committing. We hope that at least two 'big political names' will attend.

However, we can't force anyone to come, and if they don't see any benefit to their own causes, who knows what they'll decide?

We already have a panel full of a stellar cross-section of people familiar with licensing in various disciplines. There should be another announcement coming out either tomorrow or Friday. As far as I'm concerned, the real stars of the event should be the inspectors. They are the ones from whom we hope to get ideas and direction.

We're keeping our fingers crossed.

[Mark Nicholet]

Originally Posted by jbettencourt

Sounds interesting see you there, come on Ontario Inspectors put your voice forward do not get blind sided like what happened in BC.

It hasn't been that bad in fact it has increased traffic and business as the weekend warriors are no longer around.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mnicholet

It hasn't been that bad in fact it has increased traffic and business as the weekend warriors are no longer around.

That's a temporary effect.

Wait until the "inspector schools" pop up and begin sending their licensed graduates into the market every 16 weeks, offering $149 inspections.....

When it happens, we'll discuss your thoughts, again.

[Mark Nicholet]

Originally Posted by jbushart

That's a temporary effect.

Wait until the "inspector schools" pop up and begin sending their licensed graduates into the market every 16 weeks, offering $149 inspections.....

When it happens, we'll discuss your thoughts, again.

As opposed to the current state? You don't need any training or experience to work as a home inspector in Ontario. Just a business licence.

HI schools are already available in Canada.

Now, it is harder to become a licensed HI in BC. You must meet several requirements that were not pre-requisites before licensing.

There is pros and cons to everything and yes there is some negative aspects to licensing. Although, the first 3 months has been fairly positive.

I am not arguing pro licensing, I am just informing of the current status of the industry in BC.

[Vern Mitchinson]

Originally Posted by jbushart

That's a temporary effect.

Wait until the "inspector schools" pop up and begin sending their licensed graduates into the market every 16 weeks, offering $149 inspections.....

When it happens, we'll discuss your thoughts, again.

Two years from the day licencing came into effect. Watch for the increase to start in the spring of 2011.
Also with every monopolistic Association the dues will increase 50.00 per year until you are paying $2000.00 or more. ASET (Engineering technologists) got legal status two years ago. The annual due were stable at 150. per year for 10 or more years. they have increased 50.00 per year since and I expect another 50 increase next year to 300.00. The medical lab techs have had 50 per year since legal recognition and are paying 500. with another 50 increase predicted next year.
You gotta love those self serving monopolies. NOT!

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by mnicholet

I am not arguing pro licensing, I am just informing of the current status of the industry in BC.

Doctors and nurses have reported that many dying people experience a huge rush of a sense of euphoria immediately prior to death.

[Mark Nicholet]

This is good news!

http://www.cannachi.org/index.php?op...d=12&Itemid=26

I hope we are successful

[Wayne Schreiber]

Don't forget that it's not only membership dues that will skyrocket.

Mandatory insurance also means that insurance companies will also double or triple everyone's rates. Nothing you can do about it except pay or retire.

Do you like the idea of paying $10,000 dollars per year for mandatory E&O?

That's on top of your $2000 membership dues and another $1000 in government fees.

I can hardly wait.

[James H. Bushart]

Originally Posted by wschreiber

Don't forget that it's not only membership dues that will skyrocket.

Mandatory insurance also means that insurance companies will also double or triple everyone's rates. Nothing you can do about it except pay or retire.

Do you like the idea of paying $10,000 dollars per year for mandatory E&O?

That's on top of your $2000 membership dues and another $1000 in government fees.

I can hardly wait.

What do you do when your second frivolous suit gets your insurance cancelled?

Mandatory E&O is a scam used by big city inspectors to get rid of rural inspectors. Check it out. Long, long history of that.

Real estate agents and their attorneys....not even doctors.....have mandatory insurance. Licensing scams are new to you guys, but if you will study the threads of the US national associations you will discover the many scams and schemes used by the special interests. Mandatory E&O is only one of them.

[W Paul Blakey]

Mandatory E&O fees are based on nothing more than fear tactics. Ask for statistics to verify the rates that are being charged. There should be a mathematical ratio between amounts awarded in insurance claims and amounts being charged by the insurance companies. Is this inofrmation available? Not to my knowledge.

Why?

Because the people charging the insurance rates are the insurers.

[bmullen]

Originally Posted by wblakey

Mandatory E&O fees are based on nothing more than fear tactics. Ask for statistics to verify the rates that are being charged. There should be a mathematical ratio between amounts awarded in insurance claims and amounts being charged by the insurance companies. Is this inofrmation available? Not to my knowledge.

Why?

Because the people charging the insurance rates are the insurers.

Very true, Paul.

Governments, consumers, etc. have all been fraudulently convinced that our E & O will somehow benefit the consumer and protect him. Lawyers, who generally run the government, insist that mandatory E & O be included in any legislation. ............guess who makes the most when the deep pockets of the insurance companies are involved ??

E & O is not about consumer or inspector protection, it's all about greed like so many other things.

Bill Mullen

[George A. H. Luck]

"However, so far they all seem to be weighing how much political hay they can make for themselves before committing."

"if they don't see any benefit to their own causes, who knows what they'll decide?"

That was my point. If a politician can be convinced that there is a need for licensing and that they will benefit from it at the polls, then they will act, whether action is needed or not. And in this case it is not.

Every politician is looking for a 'cause' that he can champion. And what better 'cause' could there be than this mascaraed of 'consumer protection'? As we have seen elsewhere, if a big enough noise is made, and questionable ( at best) statistics are presented in support, the politicians will scramble to get on-side with a ready made issue that, in their view, has no down side.

And we suffer the consequences.

[Douglas Cossar]

Originally Posted by bmullen

Very true, Paul.

Governments, consumers, etc. have all been fraudulently convinced that our E & O will somehow benefit the consumer and protect him. Lawyers, who generally run the government, insist that mandatory E & O be included in any legislation. ............guess who makes the most when the deep pockets of the insurance companies are involved ??

E & O is not about consumer or inspector protection, it's all about greed like so many other things.

Bill Mullen

How about a legislated cap on liability, say $10,000/ claim (It was done in the US, can't recall which state though) That will make the insurance a bit cheaper.

I am not able to make it to London but maybe someone could sugest capping liability.

Cheers

[bmullen]

Originally Posted by dcossar

How about a legislated cap on liability, say $10,000/ claim (It was done in the US, can't recall which state though) That will make the insurance a bit cheaper.

I am not able to make it to London but maybe someone could sugest capping liability.

Cheers

Thanks, Doug:

That's why it's so important that w have at least one and maybe more meetings to discuss these issues.

I do not believe in mandatory insurance, but if it's forced on us, it needs to have fair premiums, a liability cap as you suggest, and it has to be available to everyone equally.

Bill Mullen