Thank you Claude for giving me the opportunity to address some of your misgivings and misinformation. I will do so in RED below:
Please tell me why invoving the real estate industry or CMHC is a bad thing.
Nobody mentioned the C.M.H.C. and it is interesting that you threw them into the discussion. That is a straw man argument at best. If you cannot understand why involving the real estate industry in making decisions for us about our industry is a very bad idea, I will do my best to explain. Involving the very people who would have a vested interest in legislating ‘soft inspections’ puts at least Realtors and probably all of us in a compromising position that probably verges on conflict of interest. In terms you might be more comfortable with, it would be like allowing students to review and make decisions on a teacher’s performance and responsibilities. Not a good idea.
The vast majority of work in this H.I. sector is through a real estate contact. That does not necessarily equate to being married to them. Can partnering with CMHC and ACBOA, FNNBOA and CSC be a detriment - afterall they are all recognized and sanctioned as credible bodies.
**Only you seem to be concerned. But it is interesting that as you try to deflect you have removed the Realtors from the equation. Not one of the organizations you mentioned stands to make money from ‘soft inspections’. **
What is the difference between licensing and union control of the H.I. industry?
**There is absolutely no difference for our purposes here. That is why the ALLIANCE of CANADIAN HOME INSPECTORS negotiated a ‘purchase of service’ agreement with the Teamsters which allows our members to access their vast resources, their professional education department, 27 paid professional lobbyists who know and see the decision makers in government , the discounts in everything from insurance to tools and the support of 130,000 members of CANADA’S most powerful union. All that and more without being forced to be a member of ANY union. The people who will control our industry will be every day working Home Inspectors: no elites, no ‘industry leaders’, no good old boys. **
So while you try to cast this in terms of “the big bad union taking over our industry”, clearly the union has no involvement other than through their commitments to provide their services to ALLIANCE of CANADIAN HOME INSPECTORS members. Nice try though:D!
Although there are claims about the demise of the NCH being absorbed into the provicial cAHPI chapters, it does not necessarily spell the end of the National Certification Program.
**With the disgusting disappearance of 4.5 million of our hard earned tax dollars as reported elsewhere, the writing is on the wall. I have already been called by two press sources who want to ask and have answered some very difficult questions. It is dead Claude. The question now is, as CAPHI received millions of dollars to develop the failed national, and that designation now has a value, when will this new group that has been cobbled together from a lot of the same people who put CAPHI together, actually pay for that programme. As a tax payer I want to see as much of those missing millions recovered as possible. **
The ALLIANCE of CANADIAN HOME INSPECTORS is proud to say that we have no connection to this revolting mess and that has been made quite clear to the press.
To borrow your line - we are not recruiting, we are informing that there are alternatives that include a rigid certification and accreditation process- hence the need for the NHICC (National Home Inspector Certification Council). We may not be perfect, but than again tell me which one of the many is perfect?
Nobody is arguing that any of us are perfect. However, the old associations and the old faces connected with them have had almost 20 years and reportedly millions of dollars to get this right and in the end the NCA collapsed and took all that money and all the dues and fees with it. The industry over which these people ruled for so long is in chaos and that situation gets worse every day. No, they have had their chance and more of the same is not good enough.
**Perfection is not an issue here. Accountability is. **
It is time for a new generation to take the reins and guide this industry in a new, inclusive direction. The last thing we need is a retreaded organization that excludes inspectors and uses their tax dollars to do it . . . . again. The sun is setting on the old ways. This time inspectors will actually be consulted and will make the decisions that affect their futures and their industry.
BTW for clarification: The NHICC is a non-profit certification body, not just another H.I. asociation with a drive to gain members. The fees are structured to cover certification costs, not the gain of others.
We have heard it all before Claude. We were told that the NCA was self supporting ( except for the reported 4.5 million dollars of course). We were told that the NCA would sign up 5000 inspectors. We were told that it would bury all the other association including the one that is gracious enough to host this conversation. We don’t need inflated claims and hyperbole anymore.
Facts and fact finding should not be viewed as veiled threats, anymore than the government deciding at some time in the near future to license home inspectors, whether we like it or not. Do you want a say in it or not? (Alberta, Quebec and even Nova Scotia are on the watch list.) Like BC - who will be looking out for you?
Canadian Inspectors want and deserve more than the old letter writing campaigns, calls to M.P.'s offices and coffee with obscure Realtors ( or even the claimed 4000 of them :roll: ). With 27 paid professional lobbyists at work in the halls of government, the ability to hold meetings, present education, and represent the membership in any community in CANADA with the full support of a 130,000 member strong organization it is pretty obvious that everyday inspectors have found their voice. It is equally obvious that government will be listening. In fact, they already are!
Hope this helped
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