CMHC needs to provide more balanced information to consumers

The Issue:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a major Canadian Crown corporation.  CMHC continues to pursue its strategic priority of providing information to enable consumers to make informed choices, and it claims to be the premier source of reliable and objective housing information in Canada.  CMHC also claims as a strength its ability to inform consumers on key issues related to housing (CMHC Corporate Plan Summary 2007-2011, p. 38).

In July 2006, CPBH representatives met with the CMHC President and CMHC Vice President Policy and Planning and discussed the need for CMHC to  provide more balanced information to Canadians about the potential of purchasing a home with serious construction defects and the limitations of warranty programs in Canada.  Examples of Canadian media reports of serious construction defects were provided to CMHC.  While CMHC committed to review its communications materials to ensure it communicates appropriately to Canadians about these issues, there has been no discernable change in CMHC’s information to consumers related to these issues.     

Canadians for Properly Built Homes' Position:
CPBH’s position is that CMHC does not provide sufficiently balanced information to Canadians about the potential of purchasing a home with serious construction defects or the limitations of warranty programs.  CPBH is calling on CMHC to provide more balanced information to consumers that will better alert potential home purchasers about the possibility of purchasing a home with serious construction defects and the limitations of warranty programs in Canada.

What can concerned citizens do?

• Write or telephone your Federal Member of Parliament and request that he/she ensures that CMHC provide more balanced information to consumers that will better alert potential home purchasers about the possibility of purchasing a home with serious construction defects and the limitations of warranty programs in Canada.

• Write or telephone the Federal Minister responsible for CMHC:   The Honourable Monte Solberg, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6, E-Mail: Solberg.M@parl.gc.ca, Telephone: (613) 992-4516