Frustration spilled onto the front lawn of the Ontario legislature this week as a coalition of condo owners gathered to demand immediate legislative overhauls for the province’s residential buildings. Bringing their campaign to Queen’s Park, these residents advocated for policy overhauls that would safeguard the 1.9 million Ontarians residing in condominium properties. The demonstration targeted a governance model that critics argue leaves residents vulnerable to unchecked board power, opaque elections, and ballooning maintenance costs.
The rally highlights a growing chasm between provincial assurances of consumer protection and the daily realities faced by residents. Demonstrators called for fairer condo elections, stringent accountability measures, enhanced transparency, and robust legal protections. According to participants, self-run board elections lack essential independent oversight, enabling bad actors to maintain control over large residential buildings for decades.
The Financial and Emotional Toll of Board Disputes
For many residents, the friction with property management and elected directors manifests as severe financial strain and protracted legal battles. Jad Boukayli, a Mississauga condo owner who has lived in his building since 2008, voiced the sentiments of many attendees on Wednesday. His monthly maintenance fees now sit at $1,255, including utilities, a figure he points to as emblematic of a system demanding stricter regulation.
Far too long has this government neglected and left condo owners and residents out of the loop. They favour the corporation. They favour the property manager. They favour the board. We’ve had enough.
The personal cost of challenging the status quo can escalate quickly. Ghufran Siddiqui, a Mississauga condo owner, experienced firsthand the barriers to obtaining basic building records. After moving into his unit with his family five years ago, he encountered recurring issues regarding elevator access, amenities, and maintenance following a leak into his unit. When he ran for a position on the board against two incumbents last year and lost, his request for financial and election records was met with resistance.
Siddiqui turned to the Condominium Authority Tribunal, an online platform designed to help resolve disputes between owners and corporations. While the tribunal ordered the release of specific records, the board appealed the decision to the Divisional Court. More than a year later, Siddiqui reports he has yet to receive “numerous” records, though he did receive a legal letter demanding legal fees.
Upcoming Regulatory Shifts and Expanded Tribunal Powers
In response to the mounting pressure, the Ontario government maintains that consumer protections are actively evolving. Giulia Paikin, press secretary for Stephen Crawford, minister of public and business service delivery and procurement, emphasized that the province is taking decisive action to hold developers and boards accountable.
Under the existing Condominium Act, owners hold the right to call meetings and vote out board directors, but the province plans to push those protections further. New rules governing owners’ meetings are scheduled to take effect Dec. 31. Additionally, starting July 1, 2027, the Condominium Authority Tribunal will see its powers broadened to adjudicate conflicts concerning how meetings are convened, alongside the authority to grant up to $50,000 in compensation to affected owners.
Calls for Neutral Oversight and Term Limits
Despite upcoming policy changes, the protesters at Queen’s Park outlined specific structural demands to curb governance abuses. Owners are pushing the province to expand the tribunal’s mandate to fast-track election disputes, enlist an independent agency to oversee condo voting, and institute mandatory term limits restricting board members to two continuous terms, or six years.
Aleks Dhefto, spokesperson for the Condominium Authority of Ontario, attended the demonstration to engage directly with concerned residents. He advised owners experiencing friction to run for the board, get involved, understand the financials, read everything that their condo sends them, and be that agent of change if they can.
Legal perspective on the issue remains somewhat divided. Shawn Pulver, a condo lawyer, suggested that “rogue boards” represent the exception rather than the rule within the sector. He noted that boards are legally required to act reasonably, listen to owners, and make decisions in good faith. Yet, he acknowledged that a few bad apples kind of represent the community.
Meanwhile, political pressure is mounting from opposition figures as well. Jessica Bell, NDP MPP for University-Rosedale, argued that the provincial government holds the necessary authority to ensure proper regulation across the condo sector, creating environments where residents can live in safe, well-maintained buildings and resolve disputes swiftly and affordably.
