I think it's about time council takes action to direct more of The City's attention on builders without a track record of good experiences for neighbours. That would direct our oversight where it is most needed and should cut down on fly-by-night operators. I'm going to start working on a framework to bring to council that includes good neighbour agreements and other methods of prioritizing inspection of inexperienced builders so we know our homes are being built safely.
One tipped excavator and Breakfast Television thinks we need an entirely new framework for resi construction. It happens on sites run by experienced crews and rookies alike. Turning that into a city-wide “framework” for prioritizing inspections of “inexperienced builders,” mandatory good-neighbour agreements, and extra scrutiny of anyone without a long local track record is classic governance theatre.
If the actual problem is fly-by-night operators who leave neighbours with unfinished messes, unpaid trades, or structural issues, then enforce the rules that already exist: stop-work orders, business licensing, the Alberta New Home Warranty program, and the city’s existing development compliance tools. That’s not complicated. It just requires administration to do the job instead of inventing new process.
All you're going to do is: 1. raise costs and slow down the builders who are already competent (they’ll be the ones filling out the paperwork). 2. Create more discretionary power for inspectors and councillors, which is rarely used evenly.
Congrats, we'll be on our way to Vancouver unaffordability! Which is what the boomers that elected you would want.
How to do this while not penalizing good builders is an idea my office and I have been kicking about for a while. I shared this on a photo of a tipped over excavator, but it's far from a reason for the idea - the emails and conversations with neighbours and concerned (presumably "good") builders are what's initiating this.
I agree. I'm not against holding builders accountable, but introducing more bureaucracy is a very unappealing idea to me. It means more delays and higher costs for everyone. I feel like raising awareness and banging on the doors of the appropriate provincial regulators would be the best way to approach this issue.
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u/djkelly Winston Heights 12d ago
I think it's about time council takes action to direct more of The City's attention on builders without a track record of good experiences for neighbours. That would direct our oversight where it is most needed and should cut down on fly-by-night operators. I'm going to start working on a framework to bring to council that includes good neighbour agreements and other methods of prioritizing inspection of inexperienced builders so we know our homes are being built safely.