PART I INTERPRETATION
(1) In this Act,
“administrative agreement” means the agreement described in subsection 3 (1); (“accord d’application”)
“administrative penalty” means an administrative penalty imposed under section 76; (“pénalité administrative”)
“assessor” means an assessor appointed under subsection 75 (2) who is authorized to impose an administrative penalty or the registrar acting as an assessor; (“évaluateur”)
“builder” has the same meaning as “builder” as defined in section 1 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act; (“constructeur”)
“common elements” means all the condominium property except the condominium units; (“parties communes”)
“common elements condominium corporation”, “common expenses” and “common interest” have the same meaning as in the Condominium Act, 1998; (“association condominiale de parties communes”, “dépenses communes”, “intérêt commun”)
“condominium corporation” means a corporation as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Condominium Act, 1998; (“association condominiale”)
“condominium declaration” means a declaration as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Condominium Act, 1998; (“déclaration de condominium”)
“condominium property” means property as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Condominium Act, 1998; (“propriété condominiale”)
“condominium unit” means a unit as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Condominium Act, 1998; (“partie privative de condominium”)
“delegated provisions” means the provisions of this Act and the regulations that the Lieutenant Governor in Council has designated as such under subsection 2 (2); (“dispositions déléguées”)
“Director” means the Director appointed under subsection 36 (1); (“directeur”)
“employ” means to employ, appoint, authorize or otherwise arrange to have another person act on one’s behalf, including as an independent contractor; (“employer”)
“information sharing agreement” means any of the agreements described in subsection 4 (3); (“accord d’échange de renseignements”)
“inspector” means an inspector appointed under subsection 58 (2) or the registrar acting as an inspector; (“inspecteur”)
“investigator” means an investigator appointed under subsection 60 (1); (“enquêteur”)
“licensee” means the holder of a licence issued under this Act; (“titulaire de permis”, see also “agréé”)
“Minister” means the Minister of Government and Consumer Services or any other member of the Executive Council to whom the responsibility for the administration of this Act is assigned under the Executive Council Act; (“ministre”)
“new home” has the same meaning as “home” as defined in section 1 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act; (“logement neuf”)
“officer” includes,
the chair and any vice-chair of the board of directors, the president and any vice-president, the secretary and assistant secretary, the treasurer and assistant treasurer and the general manager and assistant general manager of a corporation or the regulatory authority,
a partner or general manager and assistant general manager of a partnership,
any other individual designated as an officer by by-law or resolution of an organization,
any other prescribed individual; (“dirigeant”)
“owner” has the same meaning as “owner” as defined in section 1 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act; (“propriétaire”)
“owner-builder” means, subject to the prescribed requirements or restrictions, if any, an individual who constructs or manages the construction of a residential dwelling for the individual’s personal use and occupation and who meets the prescribed requirements, if any; (“constructeur-propriétaire”)
“person” means a natural person, corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, association or other prescribed person or entity; (“personne”)
“prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations; (“prescrit”)
“regulations” means regulations made under this Act; (“règlements”)
“regulatory authority” means the corporation that the Lieutenant Governor in Council has designated as such under subsection 2 (1); (“organisme de réglementation”)
“Tribunal” means the Licence Appeal Tribunal established under the Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999 or whatever other tribunal is prescribed; (“Tribunal”)
“vendor” has the same meaning as “vendor” as defined in section 1 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act; (“vendeur”)
“warranty authority” has the same meaning as “Corporation” as defined in section 1 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. (“organisme de garantie”) ;
For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be deemed to be an interested person in respect of another person if the person is associated with the other person or if, in the opinion of the registrar,
the person has or may have a beneficial interest in the other person’s activities;
the person exercises or may exercise control either directly or indirectly over the other person; or
the person has provided or may have provided financing either directly or indirectly for the other person’s activities.
For the purposes of this Act, one person is associated with another person in any of the following circumstances:
One person is a corporation of which the other person is an officer or director.
One person is a partnership of which the other person is a partner.
Both persons are partners of the same partnership.
One person is a corporation that is controlled directly or indirectly by the other person.
Both persons are corporations and one corporation is controlled directly or indirectly by the same person who controls directly or indirectly the other corporation.
Both persons are members of the same voting trust relating to shares of a corporation.
Both persons are associated within the meaning of paragraphs 1 to 6 with the same person.
PART II ADMINISTRATION
Delegation
(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, designate a not-for-profit corporation without share capital incorporated under the laws of Ontario as the regulatory authority for the purposes of this Act.
If the Lieutenant Governor in Council designates a corporation as the regulatory authority, the administration of the delegated provisions is delegated to the authority and the authority shall carry out the administration of the delegated provisions.
(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall not designate a corporation under subsection 2 (1) until the Minister and the corporation have entered into an agreement to be known as the administrative agreement.
The administrative agreement shall include, at a minimum, terms related to the following matters:
The governance of the regulatory authority.
All matters that the Minister considers necessary for the regulatory authority to carry out the administration of the delegated provisions.
The maintenance by the regulatory authority of adequate insurance against liability arising out of the carrying out of its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations.
The financial terms of the delegation of the administration of the delegated provisions, including payments to the Crown, licence fees, royalties and reimbursements for transfer of assets.
In addition to the terms required under subsection (2), the administrative agreement shall require the regulatory authority to comply with the principles of,
maintaining a fair, safe and informed marketplace; and
promoting the protection of the public interest.
(1) The regulatory authority shall share the prescribed information with the Minister, the warranty authority and prescribed persons in accordance with the regulations and in the manner and within the time prescribed.
For greater certainty, the prescribed information may include personal information as defined in subsection 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
For the purpose of complying with subsection (1), the regulatory authority shall, in accordance with the regulations, enter into agreements with the Minister, the warranty authority and prescribed persons in the manner and within the time prescribed.
The information sharing agreements mentioned in subsection (3) shall include, at a minimum, terms relating to the prescribed matters, which may include,
licence and licence renewal applications;
licence conditions;
licence suspensions;
licence revocations;
complaints made under section 56;
breaches of the code of ethics established under clause 84 (1) (f);
orders made under section 64;
restraining orders made under section 70;
administrative penalties;
offences;
other enforcement actions taken by the regulatory authority; and
all other content that is prescribed. ;
The information sharing agreements may also require the sharing of enforcement information regarding actions that the registrar is taking or is proposing to take in relation to matters set out in subsection (4). ;
In carrying out its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations, the regulatory authority shall comply with this Act, the regulations, the administrative agreement, the information sharing agreements and other applicable law.
(1) The Minister may,
require that policy, legislative or regulatory reviews related to the powers and duties of the regulatory authority under this Act, the regulations, the administrative agreement or the information sharing agreements be carried out,
by or on behalf of the authority, or
by a person or entity specified by the Minister; or
require that reviews of the regulatory authority, of its operations, or of both, including, without limitation, performance, governance, accountability and financial reviews, be carried out,
by or on behalf of the authority, or
by a person or entity specified by the Minister.
If a review is carried out by a person or entity specified by the Minister, the regulatory authority shall give the person or entity specified by the Minister and the employees of the person or entity access to all records and other information required to conduct the review.
In the event of conflict, this Act and the regulations prevail over,
the administrative agreement and the information sharing agreements;
the Corporations Information Act and the regulations made under it; and
the constating documents, by-laws and resolutions of the regulatory authority. ;
(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, revoke the designation of the regulatory authority if the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers it advisable to do so in the public interest.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, revoke the designation of the regulatory authority if,
the authority has failed to comply with this Act, the regulations, the administrative agreement, any of the information sharing agreements or other applicable law;
the Minister has allowed the authority the opportunity of remedying its default within a specified time period that the Minister considers reasonable in the circumstances; and
the authority has not remedied its default to the Minister’s satisfaction within the specified time period mentioned in clause (b) and the Minister has so advised the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
Nothing in subsection (2) restricts the ability of the Lieutenant Governor in Council to act under subsection (1).
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, revoke the designation of the regulatory authority on the terms that the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers advisable in the public interest if the authority requests the revocation.
The Statutory Powers Procedure Act does not apply to the exercise by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of a right under this section to revoke the designation of the regulatory authority.
If the Lieutenant Governor in Council revokes the designation of the regulatory authority under this section, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, provide for any transitional matter necessary for the effective implementation of the revocation, including,
the transfer, without compensation, of any property, including assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, records, databases, bank accounts and money, that the authority holds in respect of carrying out its activities; and
the assignment, without compensation, of any contracts that the authority has entered into before the revocation.
No cause of action arises against the Crown, a minister of the Crown, a Crown employee or a Crown agent as a direct or indirect result of the revocation of the designation of the regulatory authority or any regulation made under subsection (6).
No proceeding, including but not limited to any proceeding in contract, restitution, tort or trust, shall be instituted against the Crown, a minister of the Crown, a Crown employee or a Crown agent by a person who has suffered any damages, injury or other loss based on or related to any cause of action described in subsection (7).
The Minister may exercise a power under subsection 24 (1) or any other prescribed provision only if the Minister is of the opinion that it is advisable to exercise the power in the public interest because at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
The exercise of the power is necessary to prevent serious harm to the interests of the public, purchasers of new homes or owners.
An event of force majeure has occurred.
The regulatory authority is facing a risk of insolvency.
The number of members of the board of the regulatory authority is insufficient for a quorum.
Regulatory Authority
(1) The Minister may, by order, establish competency criteria for members of the board of the regulatory authority. ;
A person is qualified to be appointed or elected to the board only if the person meets the competency criteria, if any, established under subsection (1).
In the event of a conflict, an order made under subsection (1) prevails over a constating document, by-law or resolution of the regulatory authority.;
(1) The Minister may, by order, provide that no more than a fixed percentage of members of the board of the authority shall be drawn from among the persons or classes of persons set out in the order. ; ;
In the event of a conflict, an order made under subsection (1) prevails over a constating document, by-law or resolution of the regulatory authority. ;
(1) The Minister may appoint at pleasure one or more members to the board of the regulatory authority for a term specified in the appointment.
The number of members appointed by the Minister shall not form a majority of the board.
The members appointed by the Minister may include,
representatives of the public, consumer groups, businesses or government organizations; and
representatives of other interests as the Minister determines.
The Minister may appoint a chair from among the members of the board of the regulatory authority.
(1) The regulatory authority shall make available to the public, on its website and by any other means that the authority determines, the following information within the prescribed time:
Prescribed information relating to the compensation of board members, officers and employees and relating to any other payments that the authority makes or is required to make to them.
Corporate by-laws of the authority.
Any other information that is prescribed.
A regulation made under paragraph 1 of subsection (1) may require that the regulatory authority make available to the public under that subsection information relating to the compensation of a board member or officer who is in office on February 1, 2021 or an individual who is an employee on that day, where the information is for a period that begins before that day. ; CTS 12 AU 22 - 2.
If the regulatory authority makes available to the public information relating to compensation in accordance with subsection (1), or in the reasonable belief that action is required by that subsection, no court or person shall find that the authority,
has contravened any Act enacted or regulation made before or after February 1, 2021; or
is in breach of or has contravened any agreement that purports to restrict or prohibit that action, regardless of whether the agreement is made before or after February 1, 2021. ;
The regulatory authority shall follow the prescribed processes and procedures with respect to providing access to the public to records of the authority and with respect to managing personal information contained in those records.
(1) Subject to the administrative agreement, the regulatory authority may employ or retain the services of any qualified person to carry out any of its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations.
The following persons are not employees of the Crown and shall not hold themselves out as such:
Persons who are employed or whose services are retained under subsection (1).
Members, officers and agents of the regulatory authority.
Members of the board of the regulatory authority, including those appointed by the Minister.
(1) Despite the Crown Agency Act, the regulatory authority is not an agent of the Crown for any purpose and shall not hold itself out as such.
The following persons are not agents of the Crown and shall not hold themselves out as such:
Persons who are employed or whose services are retained by the regulatory authority under subsection 15 (1).
Members, officers and agents of the regulatory authority.
Members of the board of the regulatory authority, including those appointed by the Minister.
(1) No action or other proceeding shall be instituted against a current or former employee of the Crown for,
any act done in good faith in the exercise or performance or intended exercise or performance of a duty or power under this Act, the regulations or a Minister’s order; or
any neglect or default in the exercise or performance in good faith of such a duty or power.
Despite subsection 8 (3) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, subsection (1) does not relieve the Crown of liability in respect of a tort committed by an employee of the Crown to which it would otherwise be subject.
No cause of action arises against the Crown, a minister of the Crown, a Crown employee or a Crown agent as a direct or indirect result of any act or omission of a person who is not a minister of the Crown, a Crown employee or a Crown agent if the act or omission is related, directly or indirectly, to the exercise or performance or intended exercise or performance of a duty or power under this Act, the regulations or a Minister’s order.
No proceeding, including but not limited to any proceeding in contract, restitution, tort or trust, shall be instituted against the Crown, a minister of the Crown, a Crown employee or a Crown agent by a person who has suffered any damages, injury or other loss based on or related to any cause of action described in subsection (3).
Without limiting the generality of subsection (4), that subsection applies to any action or other proceeding claiming any remedy or relief, including specific performance, injunction, declaratory relief, any form of compensation or damages, including loss of revenue and loss of profit, or any other remedy or relief, and includes a proceeding to enforce a judgment, order or award made by a court, tribunal or arbitrator outside of Canada.
The regulatory authority shall indemnify the Crown, in accordance with the administrative agreement, in respect of damages and costs incurred by the Crown for any act or omission of the regulatory authority or its members, officers, directors, employees or agents in the exercise or performance or intended exercise or performance of their duties and powers under this Act, the regulations, a Minister’s order, the administrative agreement or the information sharing agreements, or for any act or omission otherwise connected to this Act, the regulations, a Minister’s order, the administrative agreement or the information sharing agreements.
(1) No action or other proceeding shall be instituted against a person mentioned in subsection (2), or who was formerly such a person, for any act done in good faith in the exercise or performance or intended exercise or performance of any of the person’s duties or powers under this Act, the regulations or a Minister’s order, or for any neglect or default in the exercise or performance in good faith of such a duty or power.
Subsection (1) applies to the following persons:
The registrar.
A deputy registrar.
The Director.
A Deputy Director.
An inspector.
An investigator.
An assessor.
A director or officer of the regulatory authority.
A person whom the regulatory authority employs or whose services the regulatory authority retains.
An agent of the regulatory authority.
The person, if any, prescribed by the Minister for the purpose of the definition of “appeal body” in subsection 77 (1).
Subsection (1) does not relieve the regulatory authority of liability to which it would otherwise be subject in respect of the acts or omissions of a person mentioned in subsection (2).
[Repealed]
(1) The money that the regulatory authority collects in carrying out its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations is not public money within the meaning of the Financial Administration Act.
Subject to section 26 and the administrative agreement, the regulatory authority may use the money described in subsection (1) to carry out activities in accordance with its purposes.
(1) The Auditor General appointed under the Auditor General Act may conduct an audit of the regulatory authority, other than an audit required under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010.
If the Auditor General conducts an audit under subsection (1), the regulatory authority shall give the Auditor General and employees of the Auditor General access to all records and other information required to conduct the audit.
(1) The board of the regulatory authority shall report to the Minister on its activities and financial affairs as they relate to this Act, the administrative agreement and the information sharing agreements.
The report shall be in a form acceptable to the Minister and shall provide the information that the Minister requires.
The board of the regulatory authority shall prepare the report for each year and at the other times that the Minister specifies.
The board of the regulatory authority shall publish the report on the authority’s website and by any other method within the period and in the manner that the Minister requires.
(1) Subject to section 9, the Minister may, by order, appoint an individual as an administrator of the regulatory authority for the purposes of assuming control of it and responsibility for its activities.
The Minister shall give the board of the regulatory authority the notice that the Minister considers reasonable in the circumstances before appointing the administrator.
Subsection (2) does not apply if there are not enough members on the board to form a quorum.
The appointment of the administrator is valid until the Minister makes an order terminating it.
Unless the order appointing the administrator provides otherwise, the administrator has the exclusive right to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the directors, officers and members of the regulatory authority.
In the order appointing the administrator, the Minister may specify the administrator’s powers and duties and the conditions governing them.
The administrator has the same rights as the board in respect of the documents, records and information of the regulatory authority.
The administrator shall report to the Minister as the Minister requires.
The Minister may issue directions to the administrator about any matter within the administrator’s jurisdiction, and the administrator shall carry them out.
No action or other proceeding shall be instituted against the administrator for an act done in good faith in the execution or intended execution of a duty or power under this Act, the regulations, the delegated provisions, a Minister’s order or the appointment under subsection (1), or for an alleged neglect or default in the execution in good faith of that duty or power.
Despite subsection 8 (3) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, subsection (10) of this section does not relieve the Crown of liability to which it would otherwise be subject. ;
Subsection (10) does not relieve the regulatory authority of liability to which it would otherwise be subject.
(1) On the appointment of an administrator under section 24, the members of the board of the regulatory authority cease to hold office, unless the order provides otherwise.
During the term of the administrator’s appointment, the powers of any member of the board who continues to hold office are suspended, unless the order provides otherwise.
No action or other proceeding shall be instituted against a member or former member of the board for anything done by the administrator or the regulatory authority after the member’s removal under subsection (1) or while the member’s powers are suspended under subsection (2).
Despite subsection 8 (3) of the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act, 2019, subsection (3) of this section does not relieve the Crown of liability to which it would otherwise be subject. ;
Subsection (3) does not relieve the regulatory authority of liability to which it would otherwise be subject.
Powers and Duties of Regulatory Authority
(1) The regulatory authority may carry out activities in addition to those provided for under this Act in accordance with its purposes, subject to subsection (2).
The regulatory authority shall not engage in commercial activity through a person or entity that is related to the authority.
The regulatory authority shall not make any changes to its purposes unless the Minister’s written approval is obtained in advance.
(1) A person has the right to communicate in French with, and to receive available services in French from, the regulatory authority.
In subsection (1),
“service” means any service or procedure that is provided to the public by the regulatory authority in carrying out its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations and includes,
responding to inquiries from members of the public, and
any other communications for the purpose of providing the service or procedure.
The board of directors of the regulatory authority shall take all reasonable measures and make all reasonable plans to ensure that persons may exercise the right to use French given by this section.
The right to use French given by this section is subject to the limits that are reasonable in the circumstances.
(1) The regulatory authority may,
establish forms related to the administration of the delegated provisions and provide for their content;
in accordance with processes and criteria established by the authority and approved by the Minister, set and collect fees, costs or other charges related to the administration of the delegated provisions; and
make rules governing the payment of the fees, costs and charges described in clause (b).
In setting the fees, costs and charges described in clause (1) (b), the regulatory authority may specify their amounts or the method for determining the amounts.
The regulatory authority,
shall publish the fees, costs and charges, processes, criteria and rules on its website or by any other electronic means required under the administrative agreement; and
may publish that information in any other format that the authority considers advisable.
The Minister may require the regulatory authority to,
establish one or more advisory councils;
include, as members of an advisory council, representatives of the public, consumer groups, businesses or government organizations and other persons as the Minister determines; or
undertake an advisory process in which it seeks advice from one or both of the public and persons with experience or knowledge relating to this Act.
The regulatory authority shall advise the Minister with respect to,
any material fact that could affect the authority’s ability to perform its duties under this Act or the regulations; or
any urgent or critical matter that is likely to require action by the Minister to ensure that the administration of the delegated provisions is carried out properly.
(1) The regulatory authority shall advise or report to the Minister on any matter that the Minister refers to it and that relates to this Act or the administration of the delegated provisions.
The regulatory authority may suggest to the Minister amendments to Ontario legislation that it considers would,
further the purpose of this Act; or
assist the authority in carrying out its powers and duties under this Act or the regulations.
(1) The regulatory authority shall participate, in accordance with the administrative agreement and the regulations, if any, in,
doing research into cost-effective building techniques, processes and materials; and
identifying, in co-operation with other organizations, best practices for new home construction. ;
The regulatory authority shall engage in efforts to support consumer education and awareness about new home construction, ownership and maintenance.
(1) The registrar may require vendors, builders and other prescribed persons to disclose to the registrar, in accordance with the regulations,
information that is related to the administration of this Act; and
any information that is prescribed.
The regulatory authority shall provide the information that is disclosed to the registrar under subsection (1) to such persons as may be required under the information sharing agreements or the regulations and shall do so in such manner and within such time as may be required under the information sharing agreements or the regulations.
Miscellaneous
(1) The following person or body shall appoint a registrar for the purposes of this Act and may appoint one or more deputy registrars:
The board of the regulatory authority.
The Minister, if there is no regulatory authority.
A deputy registrar may exercise the powers and perform the duties of the registrar that the registrar specifies and shall, if the registrar so directs, act as the registrar in the registrar’s absence.
If more than one deputy registrar is appointed, only one deputy registrar may act as the registrar under subsection (2) at any one time in respect of the powers and duties that the registrar specifies.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the following person or body shall appoint a Director for the purposes of this Act and may appoint one or more Deputy Directors:
The board of the regulatory authority.
The Minister, if there is no regulatory authority.
A person appointed as the registrar or a deputy registrar under section 35 shall not be appointed as the Director or a Deputy Director under subsection (1) of this section.
A Deputy Director shall perform the duties that the Director assigns and shall, if directed by the Director, act as the Director in the Director’s absence.
If more than one Deputy Director is appointed, only one Deputy Director may act as the Director under subsection (3) at any one time in respect of the powers and duties that the Director specifies.
PART III LICENSING
(1) No person shall act or hold oneself out as a vendor, offer to sell or transfer a new home, including as prescribed, or sell or transfer a new home, including as prescribed, unless the person is licensed as a vendor and meets the other prescribed requirements, if any.
No person shall act or hold oneself out as a builder, offer to construct a new home or construct a new home unless the person is licensed as a builder and meets the other prescribed requirements, if any.
An owner-builder is not a builder unless prescribed otherwise.
(1) An applicant is entitled to a licence or a renewal of a licence by the registrar if, in the registrar’s opinion,
the applicant is not a corporation and,
having regard to the past and present financial position of the applicant, all interested persons in respect of the applicant and all other prescribed persons, the applicant can reasonably be expected to be financially responsible in the conduct of business,
the past and present conduct of the applicant, of all interested persons in respect of the applicant and of all other prescribed persons affords reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant will carry on business in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty, and
neither the applicant, nor any employee or agent of the applicant, nor any other prescribed person has made any false statement with respect to the conduct of the applicant’s business;
the applicant is a corporation and,
having regard to its past and present financial position and the past and present financial position of all interested persons in respect of the corporation, the applicant can reasonably be expected to be financially responsible in the conduct of its business,
having regard to the past and present financial position of its officers and directors and of all interested persons in respect of its officers and directors, the applicant can reasonably be expected to be financially responsible in the conduct of its business,
the past and present conduct of its officers and directors, of all interested persons in respect of its officers and directors and of all interested persons in respect of the corporation affords reasonable grounds for belief that its business will be carried on in accordance with the law and with integrity and honesty, and
no officer or director of the corporation has made any false statement with respect to the conduct of the applicant’s business;
neither the applicant, nor any interested person in respect of the applicant, has carried on or is carrying on activities,
that are in contravention of this Act or the regulations, or that will be in contravention of this Act or the regulations if the applicant is issued a licence, or
that are in contravention of prescribed legislation, or that will be in contravention of prescribed legislation if the applicant is issued a licence;
the applicant is not in breach of a condition of the licence, if the applicant is applying for a renewal of a licence;
the applicant meets the prescribed requirements, if any, including requirements for competency;
the applicant or, if the applicant is a corporation, its directors, officers and other prescribed persons, have complied with all tax laws and regulations that are prescribed; and
granting the licence or the renewal, as the case may be, would not be contrary to the public interest. ;
An applicant for a licence or a renewal of a licence who experiences a material change, as prescribed, at any time shall,
promptly inform the registrar of the change;
promptly answer any inquiries that the registrar has with respect to the change; and
produce any documents or information that the registrar requests with respect to the change within the time that the registrar specifies.
The registrar may request, from the warranty authority,
information about the financial position of an applicant for a licence or a renewal of a licence or a licensee; or
information about any of the other criteria set out in subsection (1) with respect to the person described in clause (a).
The warranty authority shall comply with the request.
Upon granting an application for a licence or a renewal of a licence, the registrar shall notify the warranty authority that the registrar has granted the application.
A licence is subject to the conditions,
to which the applicant or licensee consents;
that the registrar applies under subsection 40 (3), (4) or (6);
that the Tribunal orders; or
that are prescribed.
(1) Subject to section 43, the registrar may refuse to license an applicant or renew the licence of a licensee if,
in the registrar’s opinion, the applicant or licensee is not entitled to a licence under subsection 38 (1); or
the applicant or licensee fails or refuses to comply with subsection 38 (2).
Subject to section 43, the registrar may suspend or revoke a licence at any time for any reason that would cause the licensee to be disentitled to the licence.
Subject to section 43, the registrar may,
approve the licence or the renewal of a licence on the conditions that the registrar considers appropriate; and
at any time, apply to a licence the conditions that the registrar considers appropriate.
Subject to section 43, the registrar shall apply to a licence the conditions that the Registrar appointed by the Corporation within the meaning of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act requires the registrar to attach to the licence under subsection 10.3 (10) or 17.4 (2.2) of that Act or that the warranty authority requires the registrar to attach to the licence under subsection 43 (8) of the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017. ;
The registrar may request an applicant for a licence or a licensee to provide to the registrar, in the form and within the time period specified by the registrar,
information specified by the registrar that allows the registrar to determine whether the applicant for a licence or the licensee has become disentitled to the licence; and
verification, by affidavit or otherwise, of any information described in clause (a) that the applicant for a licence or the licensee is providing or has provided to the registrar.
The registrar may cancel a licence upon the request in writing of the licensee and section 43 does not apply to the cancellation.
(1) A licence expires at the time that is specified in the licence or on the occurrence of an event that is described in the licence.
A licensee may allow a licence to expire by not applying to renew it before its expiry.
(1) The registrar shall notify an applicant or licensee in writing if the registrar proposes to,
refuse, under subsection 40 (1), to grant or renew a licence;
apply conditions to a licence under subsection 40 (3) to which the licensee has not consented; or
The notice shall set out the reasons for the registrar’s proposed action and shall state that the applicant or licensee is entitled to a hearing by the Tribunal if the applicant or licensee mails or delivers, within 15 days after service of the notice, a written request for a hearing to the registrar and to the Tribunal.
The notice shall be served on the applicant or licensee in accordance with section 81.
A request for a hearing under subsection (2) is sufficiently served if it is sent to the registrar and to the Tribunal by personal delivery, by registered mail or in accordance with the rules of the Tribunal.
If service is made by registered mail, it shall be deemed to be made on the third day after the day of mailing.
Despite subsection (4), the Tribunal may order any other method of service.
If the applicant or licensee does not request a hearing in accordance with subsection (2), the registrar may carry out the proposed action.
If the applicant or licensee requests a hearing in accordance with subsection (2), the Tribunal shall hold the hearing and may, by order,
direct the registrar to carry out the registrar’s proposed action; or
substitute its opinion for that of the registrar.
In addition to its powers under subsection (8), the Tribunal may attach conditions to its order or to a licence.
The registrar, the applicant or licensee and the other persons that the Tribunal specifies are parties to the proceedings under this section.
Even if a licensee appeals an order of the Tribunal, the order takes effect immediately, unless the order provides otherwise, but the Divisional Court may grant a stay until the disposition of the appeal.
If, within the time prescribed or, if no time is prescribed, before the expiry of the licensee’s licence, the licensee has applied for a renewal of a licence and paid the required fee, the licence shall be deemed to continue until,
the renewal is granted;
the registrar gives the licensee written notice of the registrar’s refusal under section 40 to grant the renewal;
the time for requesting a hearing under section 43 has expired, if the licensee receives a notice of a proposal under that section and does not request such a hearing; or
the Tribunal makes its order, if the licensee receives a notice of a proposal under section 43 and does request such a hearing.
(1) If the registrar proposes to suspend or revoke a licence under subsection 40 (2) and if the registrar considers it in the public interest to do so, the registrar may, by order, temporarily suspend the licence.
An order under subsection (1) takes effect immediately.
If the licensee requests a hearing under section 43, the order expires 15 days after the Tribunal receives the written request for a hearing, but the Tribunal may extend the time of expiration until the hearing is concluded, if a hearing is commenced within the 15-day period.
Despite subsection (3), if the Tribunal is satisfied that the conduct of the licensee has delayed the commencement of the hearing, it may extend the time of the expiration for the order,
until the hearing commences; and
once the hearing commences, until the hearing is concluded.
Once a decision of the registrar to refuse a person a licence or a renewal of a licence or to revoke a licence of a person has become final, the person may reapply for a licence only if,
the time prescribed to reapply has passed since the refusal or revocation; and
the person satisfies the registrar that new or other evidence is available or that material circumstances have changed.
(1) A licence is not transferable.
The appointment of a trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, court-appointed receiver, monitor within the meaning of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) or other insolvency agent for a licensee does not result in a transfer of any licence of the licensee, but this Act applies with necessary modifications to the person so appointed who deals with the licence, as if that person were the licensee.
Within 15 days after the date of the bankruptcy, as defined in section 2 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), or the prescribed insolvency proceeding with respect to a licensee, the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, court-appointed receiver, monitor within the meaning of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) or other insolvency agent shall give the registrar a written notice of the bankruptcy or the prescribed insolvency proceeding, as applicable, together with a written plan specifying how the person so appointed intends to manage the operations of the licensee.
For the purposes of this Act, a person, who at any time is licensed as a vendor and who acts as the vendor of a new home to which a warranty described in subsection 13 (1) of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or in subsection 47 (1) of the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017 applies, continues to be the vendor of the home even if another person sells or transfers, as prescribed, the home to an owner or completes a transaction to sell or transfer, as prescribed, the home to an owner. ;
PART IV Regulation of LICENSEEs
(1) Every licensee shall notify the registrar in writing within five days of any change in address for service.
The registrar shall be deemed to have received a notice under this section on the day on which the registrar actually received it or, if the notice is sent by mail, on the day of mailing.
(1) When a person ceases to have a controlling interest in a licensee, or acquires a controlling interest in a licensee, the licensee shall promptly notify the registrar.
When the registrar learns of a change of control occurring with respect to a licensee, the registrar may review the licensee’s licence and request the licensee to provide to the registrar, in the form and within the time period specified by the registrar,
information specified by the registrar that allows the registrar to determine whether the licensee has become disentitled to the licence; and
verification, by affidavit or otherwise, of any information described in clause (a) that the applicant is providing or has provided to the registrar.
(1) Every applicant for a licence or renewal of a licence that is a corporation and every licensee that is a corporation shall notify the registrar in writing within 30 days after the issue or transfer of any equity shares of the corporation, if the issue or transfer results in,
any person, or any persons that are associated with each other, acquiring or accumulating beneficial ownership or control of 10 per cent or more of the total number of all issued and outstanding equity shares of the corporation; or
an increase in the percentage of issued and outstanding equity shares of the corporation beneficially owned or controlled by any person, or any persons who are associated with each other, where the person or the associated persons already beneficially owned or controlled 10 per cent or more of the total number of all issued and outstanding equity shares of the corporation before the issue or transfer.
Despite subsection (1), if an applicant described in that subsection that is a corporation or a licensee that is a corporation becomes aware of a transfer to which that subsection would otherwise apply after the transfer has taken place, it shall notify the registrar in writing within 30 days after knowledge of the transfer comes to the attention of its officers or directors.
In calculating the total number of equity shares of the corporation beneficially owned or controlled for the purpose of this section, the total number shall be calculated as the total of all the shares beneficially owned or controlled, but each share that carries the right to more than one vote shall be calculated as the number of shares equal to the total number of votes it carries.
Every licensee who experiences a material change, as prescribed, at any time shall,
promptly inform the registrar of the change;
promptly answer any inquiries that the registrar has with respect to the change; and
produce any documents or information that the registrar requests with respect to the change within the time that the registrar specifies.
(1) A vendor that enters into an agreement in respect of the sale or other transfer as prescribed of a new home to a purchaser shall deliver to the purchaser the information, if any, that is prescribed and do so in the form and manner prescribed and within the time prescribed, including whether the vendor is required to deliver the information before, at the time of or after entering into the agreement.
A builder that enters into a contract for the construction of a new home with an owner shall deliver to the owner the information, if any, that is prescribed and shall do so in the form and manner prescribed and within the time prescribed, including whether the builder is required to deliver the information before, at the time of or after entering into the contract.
An agreement that a vendor enters into with a purchaser shall include the terms or conditions that the regulations deem to be so included and shall not include any term or condition that the regulations prohibit from being so included.
A contract for the construction of a new home that a builder enters into with an owner shall include the terms or conditions that the regulations deem to be so included and shall not include any term or condition that the regulations prohibit from being so included.
No licensee shall make a false, misleading or deceptive representation in its advertising, documents or other prescribed materials.
Every licensee shall take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the licensee and the licensee’s employees and agents comply with this Act, the regulations and orders made by the Director or the Tribunal under this Act or by the discipline committee or appeals committee under section 57.
PART V Complaints, Discipline, Inspections, Investigations and Enforcement
Complaints and Discipline
(1) The registrar may,
receive complaints concerning conduct that may be in contravention of this Act, the regulations or prescribed legislation;
make written requests to licensees for information regarding complaints; and
attempt to mediate or resolve complaints, as appropriate, concerning any conduct that comes to the registrar’s attention that may be in contravention of this Act, the regulations or prescribed legislation.
A request made under clause (1) (b) shall indicate the nature of the complaint.
A licensee who receives a request made under clause (1) (b) shall provide the requested information to the registrar.
If the registrar is of the opinion, whether as a result of a complaint or otherwise, that a licensee has contravened any provision of this Act, the regulations or prescribed legislation, the registrar may do any of the following, as the registrar considers appropriate:
Give the licensee a written warning, stating that if the licensee continues with the activity that led to the alleged contravention, action may be taken against the licensee.
Require the licensee to take further educational courses.
Require the licensee, in accordance with the terms, if any, that the registrar specifies, to fund educational courses for persons that the licensee employs or to arrange and fund the courses.
Refer the matter, in whole or in part, to the discipline committee.
Take further action as is appropriate in accordance with this Act, including, for greater certainty, make an order under section 76 imposing an administrative penalty or refer the matter, in whole or in part, to another assessor to consider whether such an order should be made. ;
(1) A discipline committee is established to hear and determine, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Minister, if a licensee has failed to comply with the code of ethics established under clause 84 (1) (f).
An appeals committee is established to consider, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Minister, appeals from the discipline committee.
The board of the regulatory authority shall appoint the members of the discipline committee and the members of the appeals committee and, in making the appointments, shall ensure that the prescribed requirements for the composition of each committee are met.
If the discipline committee makes a determination under subsection (1) that a licensee has failed to comply with the code of ethics, it may order any of the following, as appropriate:
Require the licensee to take further educational courses.
Require the licensee, in accordance with the terms, if any, that the committee specifies, to fund educational courses for persons that the licensee employs or to arrange and fund the courses.
Impose such fine as the committee considers appropriate, subject to subsections (4.1), (4.2) and (4.3), to be paid by the licensee to the regulatory authority or, if there is no regulatory authority, to the Minister of Finance.
Suspend or postpone the taking of further educational courses, the funding or the funding and arranging of educational courses or the imposition of the fine for the period and upon the terms that the committee designates.
Fix and impose costs that the licensee is required to pay to the regulatory authority. ;
Subject to subsection (4.2), the maximum amount of the fine mentioned in paragraph 3 of subsection (4) is,
$50,000, or such lesser amount as may be prescribed, if the licensee is an individual; or
$100,000, or such lesser amount as may be prescribed, if the licensee is not an individual.
The total amount of the fine referred to in subsection (4.1) may be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the monetary benefit acquired by or that accrued to the licensee as a result of a failure to comply with the code of ethics.
In making its order to impose a fine under paragraph 3 of subsection (4), the discipline committee shall consider any prior determination of the committee that the licensee failed to comply with the code of ethics and, subject to the maximum amount of the fine referred to in subsection (4.1), may impose a more severe fine having regard to the prior determination.
A party to the discipline proceeding may appeal the final order of the discipline committee to the appeals committee.
The appeals committee may, by order, overturn, affirm or modify the order of the discipline committee and may make an order under subsection (4).
A licensee that is required under subsection (4) to take an educational course or to arrange for others to take an educational course under that subsection shall do so,
within the time period specified in the order of the discipline committee, if the requirement is not the subject of an appeal;
within the time period specified in the order of the appeals committee, if the requirement is the subject of an appeal; or
at the first reasonable opportunity after the last order made in respect of the educational course, if no time period is specified in that order.
A licensee that is required under subsection (4) to fund educational courses shall do so,
within the time period specified in the order of the discipline committee, if the requirement is not the subject of an appeal;
within the time period specified in the order of the appeals committee, if the requirement is the subject of an appeal; or
at the first reasonable opportunity after the last order made in respect of the educational course, if no time period is specified in that order.
The licensee shall pay any fine imposed under subsection (4) on or before,
the day specified in the order of the discipline committee, if the fine is not the subject of an appeal;
the day specified in the order of the appeals committee, if the fine is the subject of an appeal; or
the 60th day after the date of the last order made in respect of the fine, if no day is specified in that order.
Inspections and Investigations
(1) The registrar is, by virtue of the registrar’s office, an inspector.
The registrar shall appoint persons to be inspectors for the purposes of conducting inspections under this Act.
The registrar shall issue to every inspector a certificate of appointment bearing the registrar’s signature or a facsimile of it.
Every inspector who is conducting an inspection under this Act shall, upon request, produce the certificate of appointment as an inspector.
(1) An inspector may, without a warrant or court order, conduct an inspection in accordance with this section for the purpose of,
ensuring compliance with this Act and the regulations;
dealing with a complaint under section 56; or
ensuring a licensee remains entitled to a licence.
As part of an inspection, an inspector may, without a warrant or court order, enter and inspect, at any reasonable time, the business premises of a licensee.
An inspector conducting an inspection under this section may be accompanied by one or more persons with special, expert or professional knowledge, and other persons as necessary, as the inspector considers advisable.
While carrying out an inspection, an inspector,
is entitled to free access to all money, valuables, documents and records of the person being inspected that are relevant to the inspection;
may make reasonable inquiries of any person, orally or in writing, with respect to anything relevant to the inspection;
may require a person to produce any document or record relevant to the inspection and to provide whatever assistance is reasonably necessary, including using any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system to produce, in any form, the document or record;
may use any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system used to engage in activities of a licensee in order to produce information that is relevant to the inspection and that is in any form;
may, upon giving a receipt for them, remove for examination and copy anything relevant to the inspection, including any data storage disk or other retrieval device in order to produce information, but shall promptly return to the person being inspected the thing that was removed; and
may, alone or in conjunction with the other persons described in subsection (3), make examinations or inquiries or take tests, as are necessary for the purposes of the inspection.
An inspector shall not use force to enter and inspect premises under this section.
No person shall obstruct an inspector conducting an inspection or a person accompanying the inspector under subsection (3) or withhold from the inspector or that other person or conceal, alter or destroy any money, documents or records that are relevant to the inspection.
If an inspector under clause (4) (c) requires a person to produce a document or record and to provide assistance, the person shall produce the document or record or provide the assistance, as the case may be.
A copy of a document or record certified by an inspector to be a true copy of the original is admissible in evidence to the same extent as the original and has the same evidentiary value.
(1) The Director shall appoint persons to be investigators for the purposes of conducting investigations under this Act.
The Director shall issue to every investigator a certificate of appointment bearing the Director’s signature or a facsimile of it.
Every investigator who is conducting an investigation under this Act shall, upon request, produce the certificate of appointment as an investigator.
(1) Upon application made without notice by an investigator, a justice of the peace may issue a warrant, if satisfied on information under oath that there is reasonable ground for believing that,
a person has contravened or is contravening this Act or the regulations or has committed an offence under the law of any jurisdiction that is relevant to the person’s fitness for a licence; and
there is,
in any building, dwelling, receptacle or place anything relating to the contravention of this Act or the regulations or to the person’s fitness for a licence, or
information or evidence relating to the contravention of this Act or the regulations or the person’s fitness for a licence that may be obtained through the use of an investigative technique or procedure or the doing of anything described in the warrant.
Subject to any conditions contained in it, a warrant obtained under subsection (1) authorizes an investigator,
to enter or access the building, dwelling, receptacle or place specified in the warrant and examine and seize anything described in the warrant;
to make reasonable inquiries of any person, orally or in writing, with respect to anything relevant to the investigation;
to require a person to produce the information or evidence described in the warrant and to provide whatever assistance is reasonably necessary, including using any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system to produce, in any form, the information or evidence described in the warrant;
to use any data storage, processing or retrieval device or system used to engage in the activities of a licensee in order to produce information or evidence described in the warrant, in any form; and
to use any investigative technique or procedure or do anything described in the warrant.
Despite subsection (2), an investigator shall not exercise the power under a warrant to enter a place, or part of a place, used as a dwelling, unless,
the justice of the peace is informed that the warrant is being sought to authorize entry into a dwelling; and
the justice of the peace authorizes the entry into the dwelling.
A warrant obtained under subsection (1) shall contain the conditions that the justice of the peace considers advisable to ensure that any search authorized by the warrant is reasonable in the circumstances.
A warrant issued under this section shall name a date of expiry, which shall be no later than 30 days after the warrant is issued, but a justice of the peace may extend the date of expiry for an additional period of no more than 30 days, upon application without notice by an investigator.
An entry or access under a warrant issued under this section shall be made between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time, unless the warrant specifies otherwise.
An investigator may call upon police officers for assistance in executing the warrant and the investigator may use whatever force is reasonably necessary to execute the warrant.
No person shall obstruct an investigator executing a warrant under this section or withhold from the investigator or conceal, alter or destroy anything relevant to the investigation being conducted pursuant to the warrant.
The warrant may authorize persons who have special, expert or professional knowledge and other persons as necessary to accompany and assist the investigator in respect of the execution of the warrant.
If an investigator under clause (2) (c) requires a person to produce information or evidence or to provide assistance, the person shall produce the information or evidence or provide the assistance, as the case may be.
An investigator who seizes any thing under this section or section 62 may make a copy of it.
A copy of a document or record certified by an investigator as being a true copy of the original is admissible in evidence to the same extent as the original and has the same evidentiary value.
An investigator who is lawfully present in a place pursuant to a warrant or otherwise in the execution of the investigator’s duties may, without a warrant, seize anything in plain view that the investigator believes on reasonable grounds will afford evidence relating to a contravention of this Act or the regulations.
(1) An investigator may exercise any of the powers described in subsection 61 (2) without a warrant if the conditions for obtaining the warrant exist but by reason of exigent circumstances it would not be reasonably possible to obtain the warrant.
Subsection (1) does not apply to a building or a part of a building that is being used as a dwelling.
The investigator may, in executing any authority given by this section, call upon police officers for assistance and use whatever force is reasonably necessary.
Subsections 61 (8) to (12) apply, with necessary modifications, to a search under this section.
Sections 159 and 160 of the Provincial Offences Act apply with necessary modifications in respect of a thing seized under the authority of section 61, 62 or 63 of this Act, reading the reference in subsection 160 (1) of that Act to a document that a person is about to examine or seize under a search warrant as a reference to a thing that an investigator is about to examine or seize under the authority of section 61, 62 or 63 of this Act.
Orders and Offences
(1) If the registrar believes on reasonable grounds that any licensee is making a false, misleading or deceptive representation in an advertisement, circular, pamphlet or material published by any means with respect to an existing or proposed new home, the registrar may,
order the licensee to cease making the representation; and
order the licensee to retract the representation or publish a correction of equal prominence to the original publication.
The order takes effect immediately upon being made.
The order shall inform the licensee named in it that the licensee may request a hearing before the Tribunal by mailing or delivering a written notice of request for a hearing to the registrar and the Tribunal within 15 days after service of the order.
The registrar shall serve the order, together with written reasons for it, on the licensee named in it.
If the licensee gives a notice of request for a hearing within the allowed time, the Tribunal shall hold a hearing.
The Tribunal may stay the order until it confirms or sets aside the order under subsection (8).
The registrar, the licensee who requested the hearing and the persons whom the Tribunal specifies are parties to the hearing.
After holding the hearing, the Tribunal may,
confirm the order with the amendments, if any, that the Tribunal considers proper to give effect to the purposes of the Act; or
set aside the order.
In confirming or setting aside the order, the Tribunal may substitute its opinion for that of the registrar.
Even if the licensee named in an order of the Tribunal made under this section appeals it under section 11 of the Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999, the order takes effect immediately but the Tribunal may grant a stay until the disposition of the appeal.
(1) If the conditions in subsection (2) are met, the Director may, in writing,
order any person having on deposit or controlling any assets or trust funds of a licensee or former licensee to hold those assets or funds;
order a licensee or former licensee to refrain from withdrawing any asset or trust fund from a person having them on deposit or controlling them; or
order a licensee or former licensee to hold any asset or trust fund of a purchaser or other person in trust for the person entitled to it.
The Director may make an order under subsection (1) if the Director believes that it is advisable for the protection of purchasers, owners or the guarantee fund under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017 and,
a search warrant has been issued under section 61; or
In the case of a bank or authorized foreign bank as defined in section 2 of the Bank Act (Canada), a credit union within the meaning of the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act, 2020 or a loan or trust corporation, the order under subsection (1) of this section applies only to the offices and branches named in the order. ;
The Director may consent to the release of any particular asset or trust fund from the order or may wholly revoke the order.
Subsection (1) does not apply if the person files with the Director, in the manner and amount that the Director determines,
a personal bond accompanied by collateral security;
a bond of an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act to write surety and fidelity insurance;
a bond of a guarantor accompanied by collateral security; or
another prescribed form of security.
An application may be made to the Superior Court of Justice for a determination in respect of the disposition of an asset or trust fund,
by a person in receipt of an order under subsection (1), if that person is in doubt as to whether the order applies to the asset or trust fund; or
by a person who claims an interest in the asset or trust fund subject to the order.
If an order is made under this section, the Director may register in the appropriate land registry office a notice that an order under subsection (1) has been issued and that the order may affect land belonging to the person specified in the notice.
The notice has the same effect as the registration of a certificate of pending litigation except that the Director may in writing revoke or modify the notice.
A person in respect of whom an order has been made under subsection (1) or any person having an interest in land in respect of which a notice is registered under subsection (7) may apply to the Tribunal for cancellation in whole or in part of the order or for discharge in whole or in part of the registration.
The Tribunal shall dispose of the application after a hearing and may cancel the order or discharge the registration in whole or in part, if the Tribunal finds,
that the order or registration is not required in whole or in part for the protection of owners or of other persons having an interest in the land; or
that the interests of other persons are unduly prejudiced by the order or registration.
The applicant, the Director and the other persons that the Tribunal specifies are parties to the proceedings before the Tribunal.
If the Director has made an order under subsection (1) or registered a notice under subsection (7), the Director may apply to the Superior Court of Justice for directions or an order relating to the disposition of assets, trust funds or land affected by the order or notice.
An application by the Director under this section may be made without notice to any other person.
(1) The Director may make an order described in subsection (2) in respect of the money or assets of a person who is not licensed and who is alleged to have engaged in activities for which licensing is required at a time when the person was not licensed to do so if,
the Director receives an affidavit in which it is alleged, and in which facts are set out supporting the allegation, that the person who is not licensed,
is subject to criminal proceedings or proceedings in relation to a contravention under this Act or any other Act that are about to be or have been instituted against the person in connection with or arising out of activities for which licensing is required, or
owns a building, dwelling, receptacle or place, or carries on activities in a building, dwelling, receptacle or place, in respect of which a search warrant has been issued under section 61; and
the Director, based on the affidavit mentioned in clause (a), finds reasonable grounds to believe that,
in the course of activities for which licensing is required under this Act, the person who is the subject of the allegation mentioned in clause (a) has received money or assets from purchasers or owners, and
the interests of those purchasers or owners require protection or the guarantee fund under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017 requires protection. ;
In the circumstances described in subsection (1), the Director may, in writing,
order any person having on deposit or controlling any money or asset of the person who is the subject of the allegation mentioned in clause (1) (a) to hold the money or asset; or
order the person who is the subject of the allegation mentioned in clause (1) (a),
to refrain from withdrawing any money or asset from a person having it on deposit or controlling it, or
to hold any money or asset of a purchaser or other person in trust for the person who is entitled to it.
Subsections 65 (3) to (13) apply, with necessary modifications, to an order made under this section.
(1) If the Director believes on reasonable grounds that a person has engaged or is engaging in any activity that contravenes any requirement under this Act, whether the activity constitutes an offence or not, the Director may propose to make an order directing a person to comply with the requirement.
The Director shall serve on the person a notice of a proposed order described in subsection (1) and written reasons for making it.
The notice shall state that the person is entitled to a hearing by the Tribunal if the person, within 15 days after it is served, mails or delivers a notice in writing requesting a hearing to the Tribunal and the Director.
The Director may make the order if the person does not request a hearing in accordance with subsection (3).
If, in accordance with subsection (3), the person requests a hearing, the Tribunal shall hold the hearing.
The Tribunal may order the Director to make the proposed order or to refrain from making the proposed order or may make an order of its own in substitution for that of the Director.
The Tribunal may attach to its order the conditions that it considers proper.
The parties to proceedings before the Tribunal under this section are the Director, the person who has requested the hearing and the other persons, if any, that the Tribunal specifies.
(1) If, in the Director’s opinion, it is in the public interest to do so, the Director may make an order requiring compliance with a requirement under this Act.
The order takes effect as soon as it is served, in accordance with subsection (3), on the person named in it.
Upon making an order for compliance under subsection (1), the Director shall serve on the person named in the order a notice that includes the order, the written reasons for making it and the statement of the right that subsection 67 (3) requires be included in a notice mentioned in subsection 67 (2).
If, in accordance with the right described in subsection (3), the person named in the order requests a hearing, the Tribunal shall hold the hearing.
The Tribunal may confirm or set aside the order or exercise all other powers that it may exercise in a proceeding under section 67.
If, in accordance with the right described in subsection (3), the person named in the order requests a hearing,
the order expires 15 days after the Tribunal receives the written request for a hearing; or
the Tribunal may extend the time of expiration until the hearing is concluded, if a hearing is commenced within the 15-day period mentioned in clause (a).
Despite subsection (6), if the Tribunal is satisfied that the conduct of the person named in the order has delayed the commencement of the hearing, the Tribunal may extend the time of the expiration for the order,
until the hearing commences; and
once the hearing commences, until the hearing is concluded.
The parties to proceedings before the Tribunal under this section are the Director, the person who has requested the hearing and the other persons, if any, that the Tribunal specifies.
Even if a party to a proceeding before the Tribunal appeals, under section 11 of the Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999, an order of the Tribunal made under section 67 or 68, the order takes effect immediately but the Tribunal may grant a stay until the disposition of the appeal.
(1) If it appears to the Director that a person is not complying with this Act or the regulations or an order made under this Act, the Director may apply to the Superior Court of Justice for an order restraining the person from acting in breach of them, and, upon the application, the court may make the order or any other order that the court thinks fit.
Subsection (1) applies despite the imposition of any penalty in respect of the non-compliance and in addition to any other procedures that may be available to the Director, whether or not the Director has exercised his or her rights under the procedures.
An appeal lies to the Divisional Court from an order made under subsection (1).
(1) A person or entity, other than the regulatory authority, is guilty of an offence if the person or entity,
furnishes false information to the regulatory authority in any application under section 38, in any statement required under this Act or in any circumstance that is prescribed;
fails to comply with any condition of a licence that the person or entity holds;
fails to comply with any order or other requirement under this Act, other than an order made under section 57; or
contravenes or fails to comply with any section of this Act or the regulations made under the Act, other than the code of ethics established under clause 84 (1) (f).
An officer or director of a corporation who fails to take reasonable care to prevent the corporation from committing an offence mentioned in subsection (1) is guilty of an offence, whether or not the corporation has been prosecuted or convicted.
Any of the following individuals who act on behalf of an entity and who fail to take reasonable care to prevent the entity from committing an offence mentioned in subsection (1) are guilty of an offence, whether or not the entity has been prosecuted or convicted:
A partner or general manager and assistant general manager of the entity, if the entity is a partnership.
Any other individual designated for the purpose of this subsection by a by-law or resolution of the entity.
Any other individual who performs functions normally performed by an individual described in paragraph 2.
A person or entity that is convicted of an offence under this Act is liable to,
in the case of an individual,
on the first conviction, a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day, or both, and
on each subsequent conviction, a fine of not more than $100,000 or imprisonment for a term of not more than two years less a day, or both; or
in the case of a person or entity that is not an individual,
on the first conviction, a fine of not more than $250,000, and
on each subsequent conviction, a fine of not more than $500,000.
In addition to any other penalty imposed by the court and despite the maximum fine referred to in subsection (4), the court that convicts a person or entity of an offence under this section may increase a fine imposed on the person or entity by an amount equal to the amount of the monetary benefit acquired by or that accrued to the person or entity as a result of the commission of the offence.
No proceeding under this section shall be commenced more than two years after the facts upon which the proceeding is based first came to the knowledge of the Director.
(1) If a person or entity is convicted of an offence under section 71, the court making the conviction may, in addition to any other penalty, order the person or entity convicted to pay compensation or make restitution.
If an order is made in favour of a person or entity under subsection (1) and that person or entity has already received compensation or restitution from an insurer, the person or entity ordered to pay the compensation or make restitution shall deliver the amount to the insurer.
(1) If a fine payable as a result of a conviction for an offence under section 71 is in default for at least 60 days, the Director may disclose to a consumer reporting agency the name of the defaulter, the amount of the fine and the date the fine went into default.
Within 10 days after the Director has received notice that the fine has been paid in full, the Director shall inform the consumer reporting agency of the payment.
If a fine is payable as a result of a conviction under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, the Director may, in the prescribed circumstances, treat the fine as if it were payable as a result of a conviction under this Act, and in those circumstances subsections (1) and (2) apply with respect to the fine as if it were a fine payable for a conviction under this Act.
(1) If a fine payable as a result of a conviction for an offence under section 71 is in default for at least 60 days, the Director may, by order, create a lien against the property of the person or entity that is liable to pay the fine.
If the lien created by the Director under subsection (1) relates to personal property,
the Personal Property Security Act, except Part V, applies with necessary modifications to the lien, despite clause 4 (1) (a) of that Act;
the lien shall be deemed to be a security interest that has attached for the purposes of the Personal Property Security Act; and
the Director may perfect the security interest mentioned in clause (b) for the purposes of the Personal Property Security Act by the registration of a financing statement under that Act.
If the lien created by the Director under subsection (1) relates to real property, the Director may register the lien against the property of the person or entity liable to pay the fine in the proper land registry office and on registration, the obligation under the lien becomes a charge on the property.
The Director shall not initiate sale proceedings in respect of any real property against which the Director has registered a lien under subsection (3).
Within 10 days after the Director has knowledge of the payment in full of the fine, the Director shall,
discharge the registration of any financing statement registered under clause (2) (c); and
register a discharge of a charge created on registration of a lien under subsection (3).
Administrative Penalties
(1) The registrar is, by virtue of the registrar’s office, an assessor.
The registrar shall appoint, in writing, persons to be assessors who are authorized to make an order under section 76 imposing an administrative penalty.
(1) An assessor may, by order, impose an administrative penalty against a person in accordance with this section and the regulations made by the Minister if the assessor is satisfied that the person has contravened or is contravening,
a prescribed provision of this Act or the regulations;
a condition of a licence, if the person is the licensee;
a prescribed provision of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or the regulations or the by-laws of the warranty authority made under it; or
a prescribed provision of the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017 or the regulations made under it.
For greater certainty, provisions of the code of ethics established under clause 84 (1) (f) may be prescribed for the purpose of subsection (1).
An administrative penalty is payable to the regulatory authority.
An administrative penalty may be imposed under this section for one or more of the following purposes:
To ensure compliance with the Acts, regulations and by-laws referred to in subsection (1) and the conditions of a licence.
To prevent a person from deriving, directly or indirectly, any economic benefit as a result of contravening the Acts, regulations or by-laws referred to in subsection (1) or the conditions of a licence.
Subject to subsection (6), the amount of an administrative penalty shall reflect the purpose of the penalty and shall be determined in accordance with the regulations made by the Minister, but the amount of the penalty shall not exceed $50,000.
The total amount of the administrative penalty referred to in subsection (5) may be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the monetary benefit acquired by or that accrued to the person as a result of the contravention.
An order made under subsection (1) imposing an administrative penalty against a person shall be in the form that the registrar determines.
The order shall be served on the person against whom the administrative penalty is imposed in the manner that the registrar determines.
An order made under subsection (1) imposing an administrative penalty against a person applies even if,
the person took all reasonable steps to prevent the contravention on which the order is based; or
at the time of the contravention, the person had an honest and reasonable belief in a mistaken set of facts that, if true, would have rendered the contravention innocent.
For greater certainty, nothing in subsection (9) affects the prosecution of an offence.
Subject to section 78, an administrative penalty may be imposed alone or in conjunction with the exercise of any measure against a person provided by the Acts, regulations or by-laws referred to in subsection (1), including the application of conditions to a licence by the registrar, the suspension, immediate suspension or revocation of a licence or the refusal to renew a licence.
An order may not be made under subsection (1) more than two years after the day any assessor became aware of the contravention on which the order is based.
Subject to the regulations made by the Minister, an assessor is not required to hold a hearing or to afford a person an opportunity for a hearing before making an order under subsection (1) against the person.
The Statutory Powers Procedure Act does not apply to an order of an assessor made under subsection (1).
A regulation made under subclause 84 (1) (h) (0.i) and filed with the Registrar of Regulations in accordance with Part III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006 on or before the last day of the pre-commencement transition period may prescribe a provision for the purpose of subsection (1) for all or part of the pre-commencement transition period and, for greater certainty, an assessor may impose an administrative penalty under subsection (1) for a contravention that occurred during that period.
In subsection (15),
“pre-commencement transition period” means the period starting on April 14, 2022 and ending on the day before section 7 of Schedule 5 to the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 comes into force.
(1) In this section,
“appeal body” means the person prescribed by the Minister or, if no person is prescribed by the Minister, the Tribunal.
The person against whom an order made under subsection 76 (1) imposes an administrative penalty may appeal the order to the appeal body by delivering a written notice of appeal to the appeal body within 15 days after receiving the order.
If the appellant does not appeal the order in accordance with subsection (2), the order is confirmed.
If the appellant appeals the order in accordance with subsection (2), the appeal body shall hold a hearing and may, by order, confirm, revoke or vary the assessor’s order, and the appeal body may attach conditions to its order.
The assessor, the appellant and the other persons that the appeal body specifies are parties to the appeal.
If the appeal body is not the Tribunal, the Statutory Powers Procedure Act does not apply to an order of an assessor appealed under subsection (2).
Even if the appellant appeals an order of the appeal body, the order takes effect immediately, unless the order provides otherwise, but the Divisional Court may grant a stay until the disposition of the appeal.
If a person against whom an order imposing an administrative penalty is made pays the penalty in accordance with the terms of the order, or if the order is varied on appeal, in accordance with the terms of the varied order, the person cannot be charged with an offence under an Act referred to in subsection 76 (1) in respect of the same contravention on which the order is based and no other prescribed measure shall be taken against the person in respect of the same contravention on which the order is based.
(1) If a person against whom an order imposing an administrative penalty is made fails to pay the penalty in accordance with the terms of the order, or if the order is varied on appeal, in accordance with the terms of the varied order, the order may be filed with the Superior Court of Justice and enforced as if it were an order of the court.
For the purposes of section 129 of the Courts of Justice Act, the date on which the order is filed with the court shall be deemed to be the date of the order.
If a person against whom an order imposing an administrative penalty is made fails to pay the penalty in accordance with the terms of the order, or if the order is varied on appeal, in accordance with the terms of the varied order, the Director may, by order, create a lien against the property of the person that is liable to pay the penalty.
PART VI GEneral
(1) A person who obtains information in the course of exercising a power or carrying out a duty related to the administration of this Act or the regulations shall preserve secrecy with respect to the information and shall not communicate the information to any person except,
as is required in connection with a proceeding under this Act or in connection with the administration of this Act or the regulations;
to a ministry, department or agency of a government engaged in the administration of legislation similar to this Act or legislation that protects consumers or to any other entity to which the administration of legislation similar to this Act or legislation that protects consumers has been assigned;
as authorized under the Regulatory Modernization Act, 2007;
to a prescribed entity or organization, if the purpose of the communication is consumer protection;
to a law enforcement agency;
to the counsel of the person communicating the information; or
with the consent of the person to whom the information relates.
Except in a proceeding under this Act, no person shall be required to give testimony in a civil proceeding with regard to information obtained in the course of exercising a power or carrying out a duty related to the administration of this Act or the regulations.
(1) Any notice, order or request is sufficiently given or served if it is,
delivered personally;
sent by registered mail; or
sent by another manner if the sender can prove receipt of the notice, order or request.
If service is made by registered mail, the service shall be deemed to be made on the third day after the day of mailing unless the person on whom service is being made establishes that the person did not, acting in good faith, through absence, accident, illness or other cause beyond the person’s control, receive the notice, order or request until a later date.
Despite subsections (1) and (2), the Tribunal may order any other method of service it considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(1) Subject to the regulations, the registrar shall make available publicly on the website of the regulatory authority and by any other means that the registrar determines,
information about the business activities of any class of licensees or prescribed persons, including their business name, business address, phone number and electronic mail address;
licensing information about a licensee, including the licensee’s licence number, the date that the licence expires and the current status of the licence;
information about what persons are directors, officers or prescribed persons of a licensee, contact information for them and how they are interested in the licensee or associated with the licensee;
information about persons who are subject to a notice of proposal under section 43;
information about persons whose licence has been suspended, immediately suspended or revoked;
information about determinations and orders made by the discipline committee or appeals committee under section 57;
information about persons who have been convicted of an offence under this Act;
information about persons in respect of whom an assessor has imposed an administrative penalty, including the amount of the penalty;
information that the registrar receives under section 5.6 of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act or under subsection 67 (1) of the Protection for Owners and Purchasers of New Homes Act, 2017; and
any other prescribed information. ;
The public information described in subsection (1) shall be searchable, including by licensee name, names of directors, officers and principals, and as otherwise prescribed.
(1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,
specifying any matter that is described in this Act as prescribed or dealt with in the regulations, except for any matter that this Act describes as being prescribed by the Minister or dealt with in regulations made by the Minister;
governing the revocation of the designation of the regulatory authority;
respecting classes of licences;
specifying the responsibilities of any former licensee or any class of former licensees, in connection with or arising out of the business in respect of which the former licensee was licensed or the class of former licensees was licensed or in respect of which licensing was required under this Act;
governing agreements that a vendor or builder enters into with the regulatory authority, including,
deeming certain terms or conditions to be included in the agreements,
prohibiting the agreements from including certain terms or conditions specified in the regulations, and
specifying remedies for the parties to the agreements resulting from non-compliance;
governing the information that section 53 requires a vendor to deliver to a purchaser or a builder to deliver to an owner;
governing agreements that a vendor enters into with a purchaser, including,
deeming certain terms or conditions to be included in the agreements,
requiring the parties to each agreement to include certain specified terms or conditions,
prohibiting the agreements from including certain terms or conditions specified in the regulations, and
specifying remedies for the purchaser resulting from non-compliance;
governing contracts for the construction of a new home that a builder enters into with an owner, including,
deeming certain terms or conditions to be included in the contracts,
requiring the parties to each contract to include certain specified terms or conditions,
prohibiting the contracts from including certain terms or conditions specified in the regulations, and
specifying remedies for the owner resulting from non-compliance;
governing what constitutes a false, misleading or deceptive representation for the purpose of section 54;
governing the activities of licensees and prohibiting licensees from engaging in practices specified in the regulations, in addition to practices prohibited by this Act;
specifying procedures and other matters for handling complaints under section 56;
governing the documents and records that licensees must keep, including the manner in which licensees must keep them and the time periods for which they must be kept and authorizing the registrar to specify the location at which licensees must keep them;
defining any word or expression used in this Act that has not already been expressly defined in this Act;
exempting any person or entity or any class of persons or entities from any provision of this Act or the regulations and attaching conditions to an exemption;
delegating to the Minister or to the regulatory authority any power to make a regulation under this subsection;
respecting any matter necessary or advisable to carry out the intent or purpose of this Act;
providing for any transitional matter necessary for the effective implementation of this Act or the regulations or related to the repeal of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, including,
deeming information provided under that Act to have been provided under this Act, and
governing fees and other amounts paid under that Act and deeming them to have been paid under this Act.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make the regulation-making power delegated to the Minister under clause (1) (o) subject to its approval.
Despite any delegation to the Minister under clause (1) (o) and without having to revoke the delegation, the Lieutenant Governor in Council continues to have authority to make regulations in respect of the power that is the subject of the delegation.
If the Lieutenant Governor in Council makes a regulation to which subsection (3) applies, the regulation does not have the effect of revoking a delegation under clause (1) (o) unless the regulation so specifies.
The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, revoke a delegation to the Minister under clause (1) (o), but the revocation of a delegation does not result in the revocation of any regulation made by the Minister under the delegated power before the revocation of the delegation.
(1) The Minister may make regulations,
(0.a) specifying any matter that is described in this Act as prescribed by the Minister or dealt with in the regulations made by the Minister;
requiring the registrar to share with the Minister the information that the registrar collects under subsection 34 (1);
requiring the regulatory authority to provide the Minister, the warranty authority or any other person prescribed by the Minister with the information specified in the regulation and governing the providing of the information, including the form, manner and time for providing the information;
respecting applications for a licence and for renewal of a licence;
requiring an applicant for a licence or a renewal of a licence to provide information to the registrar concerning persons other than the applicant in order to assist the registrar in determining whether the persons are or may be interested persons;
specifying information that licensees must provide to the registrar and requiring that specified information be verified by affidavit;
establishing a code of ethics for licensees;
governing fines that the discipline committee or the appeals committee may impose, including the criteria to be considered in determining the amount, the procedure for making an order for a fine and the rights of the parties affected by the procedure;
governing administrative penalties that an assessor may order and all matters necessary and incidental to the administration of a system of administrative penalties, including,
(0.i) prescribing provisions for the purpose of subsection 76 (1),
specifying the amount of an administrative penalty or providing for the determination of the amount of an administrative penalty by specifying the method of calculating the amount and the criteria to be considered in determining the amount,
providing for different amounts to be paid, or different calculations or criteria to be used, depending on the circumstances that gave rise to the administrative penalty or the time at which the penalty is paid,
specifying information that must be included in an order for payment of an administrative penalty,
governing the procedure for making an order under section 76 for an administrative penalty and the rights of the parties affected by the procedure, including the time at which the order is deemed to be served on the licensee against whom the order is made, and
governing the appeal of an order for payment of an administrative penalty;
specifying the purposes for which the regulatory authority may use the funds that it collects as fines and administrative penalties;
requiring the regulatory authority to establish, maintain and comply with a policy, in accordance with any requirements in the regulations, to govern payments the regulatory authority makes, if any, from the funds the regulatory authority collects as fines and administrative penalties, to persons who have been adversely affected by contraventions in respect of which fines or administrative penalties can be imposed;
requiring the regulatory authority to make specified documents available to the public and prescribing the means for doing so;
respecting any matter for which the power to make regulations is delegated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council to the Minister under clause 83 (1) (o);
delegating to the regulatory authority any power to make a regulation under this subsection. ; ; ; ;
The Minister may make the regulation-making power delegated to the regulatory authority under clause (1) (k) subject to the Minister’s approval, and in that case shall not approve regulations unless, in his or her opinion, they have been made in accordance with the consultation process and criteria set out in the administrative agreement.
Despite any delegation to the regulatory authority under clause (1) (k) and without having to revoke the delegation, the Minister continues to have authority to make regulations in respect of the power that is the subject of the delegation.
If the Minister makes a regulation to which subsection (3) applies, the regulation does not have the effect of revoking a delegation under clause (1) (k) unless the regulation so specifies.
The Minister may, by regulation, revoke a delegation to the regulatory authority under clause (1) (k), but the revocation of a delegation does not result in the revocation of any regulation made by the authority under the delegated power before the revocation of the delegation.
If there is a conflict between a regulation made under subsection (1) and a regulation made by the regulatory authority, the regulation of the Minister prevails.
A regulation made under clause (1) (i.1) may provide for any aspect of the policy required under that regulation to be subject to the approval of the Minister.
(1) The regulatory authority may make regulations respecting any matter for which the power to make regulations is delegated to it by the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the Minister.
A regulation made by the regulatory authority under this section is a regulation within the meaning of Part III (Regulations) of the Legislation Act, 2006.
On February 1, 2021, a person who was registered as a vendor under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act immediately before February 1, 2021 is deemed to be licensed as a vendor under this Act. ; CTS 12 AU 22 - 2.
On February 1, 2021, a person who was registered as a builder under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act immediately before February 1, 2021 is deemed to be licensed as a builder under this Act. ; CTS 12 AU 22 - 2.
On February 1, 2021, an application for registration or renewal of registration as a vendor or builder within the meaning of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act that has not been disposed of under that Act before February 1, 2021 is deemed to be an application for a licence or renewal of a licence, as the case may be, as a vendor or as a builder, as the case may be, under this Act. ; CTS 12 AU 22 - 2.
On February 1, 2021, a prescribed proceeding that the Corporation within the meaning of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act had commenced as of January 31, 2021 is continued as a proceeding of the regulatory authority under this Act. ; CTS 12 AU 22 - 2.
Part VII (OMITTED)
Omitted (provides for amendments to this Act).
Part VIII (OMITTED)
-89 Omitted (amend, repeal or revoke other legislation).
[Repealed]
Part IX (OMITTED)
Omitted (provides for coming into force of provisions of this Act).
Omitted (enacts short title of this Act).