Condo Corporations Now Permitted to Access Reserve Funds in “Emergencies”

In a significant move for Alberta condominiums, on June 1, 2020 the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta, the Honourable Lois Mitchell, approved an Order in Council to amend the Condominium Property Regulation, AR 168/2000. Among other slight changes to document retention periods, the amendments notably give condominium corporations the ability to temporarily remove funds from their capital […] Read More
June 2, 2020

Suspended: Condo Time Frames and Rights of Entry

Condominium corporations face particularly unique challenges due to the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, among other things. In response to these public health restrictions, the Minister of Service Alberta, the Honourable Nate Glubish, issued a Ministerial Order on April 9, 2020 that temporarily suspends a host of time frames and other requirements under […] Read More
April 15, 2020

No Contractors Allowed: Court Calls Condo Matter “Urgent”

The Ontario Superior Court has just ruled that unit owners allowing third party contractors access to a condominium property to perform non-urgent work in their unit constitutes a matter of urgency. Last week, in York Condominium Corporation No. 419 v Black, 2020 ONSC 2066, a condominium corporation in Ontario sought an emergency court injunction against […] Read More
April 8, 2020

Tackling COVID-19 and Minimizing Risk: Considerations for Alberta Condominium Corporations

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down and has changed the way that we go about our daily lives. Current public health recommendations include requirements for self-isolation, restrictions on gatherings, and physical distancing. In apartment-style condominium buildings, these recommendations are creating unique challenges and raising several issues that condominium corporations and boards […] Read More
April 3, 2020

Convening a Condominium AGM Amid Concerns Over COVID-19?

Spring is typically Annual General Meeting (AGM) season for condominium corporations and with the COVID-19 virus having been declared a pandemic last week, condo boards should consider whether or not to proceed with scheduled AGMs. For many condo corporations, an AGM will be a “mass gathering” that corrals hundreds of unit owners together in one room, sitting in close proximity, […] Read More
March 18, 2020

Regulation of Short-Term Rentals Still To Be Decided

An update on the City of Edmonton’s attempts to better regulate Airbnb-style short-term rentals. This week, the Urban Planning Committee (UPC) met to revisit the issue of short-term rentals, and consider recommendations from City Administration on changes to the Bylaw. Of all the options considered, including development permit requirements, taxation/levies, affordable housing and tourism fees, […] Read More
February 28, 2020

Cutting the Red Tape: New Condo Regulations coming to Alberta January 1, 2020

On November 26, 2019, the Alberta Government released the long-awaited, newly-revised amendments to the Condominium Property Regulation, and proclaimed that certain sections of the Condominium Property Amendment Act, SA 2014, c. C-10 will also come into force on January 1, 2020. The majority of the revisions in this phase of the amendments addresses governance issues, […] Read More
December 20, 2019

City Moves to License AirBnBs and Other Short-Term Rentals

The Urban Planning Committee voted on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, to recommend the adoption of a new Business Licence Bylaw, in an effort to begin regulating short-term rental accommodations in the City of Edmonton. Often described simply as “short-term rentals”, these accommodations are typically transacted between “hosts” or “operators” and prospective guests, through online platforms […] Read More
August 28, 2019

Cutting the Red Tape? New Condo Regulations are on Hold for Further Review

On July 1, 2019, the Government of Alberta announced that the revised Regulations and amendments to the Condominium Property Act that were scheduled to come into force that day have been placed on hold until January 1, 2020. In a recent statement, Nate Glubish, Minister of Service of Alberta, stated that the delay was necessary […] Read More
July 24, 2019

Tick-Tock Goes the Lien Clock

Builders’ liens are an important tool, providing contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers security for unpaid work. The template s.48 Order requires a lien claimant to file a Statement of Claim within 180 days of registering the lien; however, before the template Order came into existence, this requirement was regularly seen in s.48 Orders in order to […] Read More
January 25, 2019