Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. The 2008 building envelope survey done by the government with the city of Calgary said that Alberta’s “system of construction and inspection is not performing adequately to protect the home or condominium owner.”

In real terms that means that Albertans can be paying tens of thousands of dollars to fix badly built new homes and condo-miniums. To the Minister of Municipal Affairs: why is it that in three and a half years the government hasn’t adopted a single change relative to new residential construction?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Griffiths: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the member for asking me my first opposition question.

Mr. Speaker, we’re aware of some of the challenges around the province with condominium owners and homeowners. We’re reviewing the home building standards right now, and we’re working on making sure that the right punitive measures are in place and the proper timelines to make sure that those who are not building appropriately are punished as opposed to those who are doing a great job around this province.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thanks very much. Well, this is a recurring theme.

Back to the same minister. Given that the government suggested in June of this year that adoption of new homeowner protection measures was imminent, like, right away, like, soon, why are condo owners and homeowners still waiting for even one of those measures to be put into place?

Mr. Griffiths: I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker. I can’t comment on what was promised by the department earlier. I know that our depart-ment is working on it right now, and they are coming forward. We’re hoping for some adoptions to the code this spring.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman: Thank you. As minister you’re responsible for now and before.

Last question. Why hasn’t this government been able to find the courage to increase the woefully inadequate Safety Codes Act fines? I mean, they’re a joke. They’re a cost of doing business. This department keeps reviewing and reviewing, but nothing is happening. When are we going to see it happen?

Mr. Griffiths: Mr. Speaker, my comment was not that I’m not responsible, but I can’t comment on what exactly happened in the process at the time because I wasn’t the minister.

This spring I will be bringing forward legislation that takes the six-month period when violations can be identified and fines can be levied to a three-year period because it usually takes that long for those sorts of structural challenges to be identified. We’re raising the fines on the first offence from $15,000 to $100,000 and from $30,000 to $500,000, and it will punish those who are not building to code.

Alberta Hansard, November 22, 2011

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