COLCO NEWS RELEASE

 "A group of leaky condo owners is battling the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for information.  The "Compensation and Accountability to Soaked Homeowners Society" believes the  information would help them prove the federal government would  actually SAVE taxpayers money by helping pay for leaky home  repairs.  Leaky home owner advocate Carmen Maretic says they made an  access to information request to the CMHC for the number of bankruptcies and foreclosures due to "leaky condo" problems.  But she  says they were refused the information citing competitive pressures.  She says with the information they'll be able to prove it'd actually cost  the federal government less to help pay for repairs, than the CMHC is  paying to satisfy the shortfall to the banks on mortgages it has
  guaranteed.  Maretic says the refusal to provide information on the leak related bankruptcies is not justified and they're appealing the decision."

Transcript titled: LEAKY CONDO OWNERS WANT MORE INFORMATION
August 01, 2000 - CKWX 1130 AM Radio, Vancouver
 

Mr. Ministers,

Can you please explain to me and the other 50,000+ families, owners of
leaky condos, why you continue to choose to let more of us British
Columbians lose our homes to foreclosure and bankruptcy as a direct
result of this disaster?

This government / industry made "unnatural" disaster has had all the
plundering effects of a natural disaster, and more.

How many victims from Manitoba, Ontario or Quebec:
a) endured the indignities of foreclosure or became victims of
bankruptcy?;    b) were forced to litigate?;    c) are still suffering
from extended mental anxiety, depression and other long term health
effects?;    d) had to watch the family next door fall apart and become
another social caseload statistic?;    and,  e) were discriminated
against and ignored by senior government?

In "Leaky Rotten Condo Land" we have been let down by the lack of
professional standards of conduct, competence and proficiency by members
of various building industry professions and associations as well as all
levels of government.

It is my understanding that you are both professionals bound by the
ethical principles and code of conduct of your respective associations /
professions.  Also the values of the Liberal Party and the Oath of
Office further obligate you to fulfill fundamental responsibilities to
safeguard and advance the interests of Canadian society as a whole.

The doctrine of ministerial accountability was described in the 1979
Lambert Report.  Canadians elect their representatives to Parliament and
each department is held accountable through their ministers.  Ministers
are called upon to answer for the actions of their subordinates and are
held personally responsible for the activities carried out under their
authority.

Clearly then, for our parliamentary system to function properly, there
must be an unbroken chain of accountability between government and the
people: departments answer to their ministers, ministers answer to
Parliament and MPs answer to the people.  I've asked some very specific
questions and do not want to wait another three months for another
bureaucratic response that doesn't answer my questions.  I am asking you
to please be fully accountable.  Thank you.

John Grasty

Email: john.grasty@myleakycondo.com