George and others do you feel that licensing of home inspectors in Ontario is just a matter of time? Albeit - Perhaps not in the immediate future, but in my opinion within the next 5 years, if not sooner!
Claude, the fallacy of your premise is that licensing is inevitable. You were told that there is no popular demand either inside or outside the industry for it and that until there is the government is just not interested. All we see here is an attempt by PHPIO to create the illusion of a demand.
Do you feel there is “some” wisdom regardless of association to be at least proactive, rather than reactive? Should we at least be open and talk about it, or just pretend that it will never happen.
The problem here is that we see more than just ‘talk’. We see one organization, populated by the same old faces, trying to position itself so that if licensing ever comes to Ontario, those faces will be preeminent in it’s organization.
Do you feel that there is one association already out there building the pathway to be proclaimed as the “chosen” over all others?
There are several associations trying to seize the high ground with the hopes of ending up in the proverbial ‘driver’s seat’. There is no altruism in the industry at that level.
Do you feel that they will include the others? Or will you have to jump through all the requirements - just like those out in BC. It decimated the numbers out there, and those left are busier than ever. Simply no license - unlawful to practice!
The B.C. situation was driven by CAHPI. in the hopes that they would be left in charge. The BC government instituted a disaster because of that input. Now in Ontario we see yet another attempt by members / supporters of CAHPI trying to institute the same take-over.
If you feel that you have an opinion should it at least be heard?
Yes every opinion should be heard. But, as I predicted, those who attended the last symposium and did not support licensing had their attendance represented as support for PHPIO and their drive to assume control of the issue.
Are you aware that there are other “forces” at work much larger than all of the home inspectors and their associations in the province?
You mean that there IS a God??!!!
Regardless of what others may think, those forces can and will have a serious if not real impact on what happens. Whether we want to sit back and complain about it, or be proactive and start building strategic alliances to make certain that home inspectors do have a voice when it happens is all about choice. Nobody is forcing this position - but the appetite is there, and we would be foolish to ignore the signals.
And that is “The BIG LIE”. There is no drive toward licensing in Ontario except in the hallowed halls of PHPIO and CAHPI. The government has said that clearly. These organizations wish to create the illusion of a demand, but when push comes to shove the statistics do not support the contention that there is a need. The data does not support the conclusion.
Those that attended the London session had the opportunity to hear about both the positive and negative points of licensing. The panel was comprised of a well rounded field including the mortgage companies, legal side, consumer side and real estate side - just to name a few. I felt that the session was very productive and well mannered by all participants. But a few messages seem to pinpoint that “home inspectors” need to consider their options, sooner than later.
Perhaps the most dangerous thing that PHPIO did was to include anyone from the Real Estate industry. Realtors should not be involved in ANY decision making that affects the future of the home inspection industry. It is called ’ conflict of interest’. So what we have here is PHPIO attempting to purchase credibility with the Real Estate Industry by selling out our futures to Realtors who wish to control us. There are several examples of this happening in the United States and their unhappy results are there for all to see.
Let’s face it, lessons have been learned in BC, perhaps for some the hard way. Alberta seems to be positioning itself to consider the licensing issue also. Not to forget that it has continued with interest in other areas too!
“Alberta seems to be positioning itself to consider the licensing issue also.” Claude, this is a pipe dream and you know it. You cannot say that Alberta is going to entertain licensing so Ontario must too. Especially when Alberta has been quite clear about that possibility.
As Wayne noted, there is a huge difference between the open meetings, rather than the closed door sessions held by others. What was most interesting was how the London session dealt with licensing rather than getting down and dirty about petty association politics.
NO, what is most interesting is that so few attended and that the attendance of all, regardless of their stand on licensing was represented as support for it. That is why all inspectors should think long and hard before attending this next symposium. On top of openness, and free expression of ideas we need honesty not ‘spin’.
Cheers, Claude Lawrenson NACHI03121515