MPP Andrea Horwath, the NDP critic for government and consumer services, says people who purchase sub-standard new homes deserve to have Ontario’s Ombudsman looking out for their best interests.

Currently the Ombudsman has no authority to oversee Tarion, the McGuinty government’s “arm’s length” private agency, when it fails to compensate and satisfy the purchasers of shoddily built new homes under its warranty program.

“Who does the Minister actually have in place to cut through the bureaucratic runaround at Tarion to ensure quicker compensation and better satisfaction to new homebuyers who’ve been victimized by shoddy builders?” Horwath demanded today in Question Period. “When the family dream home becomes a nightmare because of shoddy building practices, Tarion has failed to deliver and is accountable to no one, not even the Minister.”

Horwath called on Government and Consumer Minister Ted McMeekin to commit to introducing Ombudsman oversight of Tarion.

“This is the sure and best way to bring real accountability and real solutions regarding the systemic problems experienced by the new home-buying public,” Horwath said.

Canadians for Properly Built Homes, an association of aggrieved homeowners victimized first by the home builder, then by Tarion, came to Queen’s Park from across Ontario today and joined Horwath’s push for the Ombudsman’s involvement.

Families have been devastated financially and personally after purchasing a seriously flawed new home under a warranty that Tarion refused to honour.

Ombudsman André Marin’s recent report was critical of Tarion’s lack of consumer focus.

“Tarion … is not strongly motivated by a sense of urgency regarding improving its practices. Tarion’s mandate affects almost half a million consumers a year,” said the Ombudsman’s June 3rd report.

Marin urged the McGuinty government to take steps “to move Tarion towards truly reflecting a culture of public service” given the importance of warranty protection to Ontario’s homeowners,