Condo Owners Association (known as COA Ontario) was Founded on March 2010 by Linda Pinizzotto, a Toronto/Mississauga Realtor who had a vision to create the 1st Non-Profit Association to represent Condo Owners and design a mechanism for awareness and representation in the Political forefront within all levels of Government across the Province of Ontario. There are over 1.3 Million Condo Owners who need a cohesive united voice to represent them on many important issues. COA supports the development of its members and fosters a prosperous and sustainable economic environment while contributing to the quality of life in the condo community.
Linda's vision included a Condo Owners Association structure to represent Condo Owners in all of the Municipalities across the Province of Ontario. The Municipalities and Regions are known as Divisions of COA Ontario and each have various Districts to identify their respective Wards. he structure recognizes the vast amount of condominium owners and embraces various levels of government for representation in each Municipality and Region. This structure allows a productive and communicative working environment with local Councillors, Members of Provincial Parliament, Members of Parliament and the various Ministry's of our Government.
COA Ontario is growing steadily with additional strong commitment and dedication from bellow Board of Directors Bob Coffey, Ex Chair of KPMG and Derrick Thomas; President and CEO of ITMayDay. Please view COA Submissions to Ministry relating to some recommendations. COA is an active Senior Stakeholder in the Condo Act Review. "Building a Better Condo Act" Working to represent and advocate for Condo Owners Rights... please see quote at the bottom of the page on this Provincial website.
Why Condo Owners need a Condo Owners Association
Condo Owners are facing huge maintenance fees, problem Board of Directors and a Condo Act that needs to be updated to protect their interest. There is a huge imbalance of the present structure which takes away the rights of Condo Owners and puts too much control in the hands of the Board of Directors therefore compromising Condo Owners rights.
The Condo Act n
eeds changes and proper governance ie; better Tarion Warranty Coverage, government funded energy retrofitting plans, respect for Municipal height restrictions and no further interference from the Ontario Municipal Board; better building codes, specific property tax assessment strictly relating to condos, a government bond with higher interest rates for condo reserve funds and education standards for Condo Board of Directors.
The act must include compliance mandates and fines as deemed necessary (as per other acts) to insure the Boards are in compliance to the Act and Owners are protected. We need to address the important needs of existing condominiums where prices are dropping and maintenance fees are way above the normal ratio to value. We need to review service related trades and create a defined price list for services.
Some COA Initiatives
- Support Changes to the Condo Act working with Ministry of Consumer Services in Condo Act Review
- Meetings with MP's, MPP's and local Councillors in all Districts - across the Province of Ontario
- COA supported NDP Leader Andrea Horwath at HST Rally Queen's Park, Toronto
- Preparing extensive reports and investigating numerous Condo Owners issues
- Meetings with Minister Margaret Best, Deputy Minister Giles Gherson
- Meetings with Hon J. Gerretson, Minister Consumer Services
- Discussions and Meetings with Andrea Horwath, NDP Leader
- Discussions on Condo Act with Tim Hudak, Leader PC
- Meeting with John Campbell, CEO Waterfront Toronto
- Meeting with Go Transit, Metrolinx, Municipal Stakeholder Groups
- Meetings with condominium Board of Directors, Lawyers and Engineers
- Presentations to Carson Dunlop, Financial Institutions, several Corporate Firms
- City Official discussions and correspondence (Building, Zoning and By-Law Depts)
- Special Discussions with MPAC - Municipal Property Assessment Corporation- Property Taxes
- Press, Media and Political Conferences - CBC - CTV - Metro Morning - CP24 - That Channel
- Newspaper and Magazine Press Articles - Toronto Star, National Post, Local Magazines
- Social Media - 27 COA Twitter for City's across Ontario, Up-to-date Website, Videos
- COA supported NDP Leader Andrea Horwath at HST Rally Queen's Park, Toronto