Ontario Condo Owners Demand Stronger Government Oversight, Fair Elections and Greater Accountability at Queen’s Park Protest

TORONTO, Ontario: Frustrated condominium owners from across Ontario gathered outside the provincial legislature at Queen’s Park this week, demanding urgent reforms to condominium governance, greater financial transparency and stronger legal protections for residents who believe the current system gives excessive authority to condominium boards and property management companies.

The demonstration, the second organized by concerned condo owners this year, highlighted growing dissatisfaction with how condominium corporations are managed and how disputes between residents and elected boards are resolved.

Protesters argued that Ontario’s existing condominium laws do not provide sufficient protection for the approximately 1.9 million people living in condominium properties across the province.

Their concerns include disputed board elections, limited access to financial records, escalating maintenance fees, costly legal proceedings and difficulties holding board members accountable for their decisions.

While the Ontario government has promised additional consumer protections, demonstrators insist that legislative changes must be introduced more quickly to address problems they say have continued for years.

Jad Boukayli, a Mississauga condominium owner who has lived in his building since 2008, was among those calling for stronger government intervention.

Speaking during Wednesday’s demonstration, Boukayli accused provincial authorities of failing to adequately address the concerns of ordinary condominium residents.

He argued that the current regulatory environment places too much emphasis on protecting condominium corporations, property managers and boards rather than ensuring that individual owners have meaningful rights and effective ways to challenge decisions.

Boukayli said his monthly condominium maintenance fees have reached $1,255, including utilities, adding to his concerns about accountability and the financial burden facing homeowners.

For many condominium residents, maintenance fees represent a substantial monthly expense in addition to mortgage payments, property taxes and other household costs.

Protesters said that when residents are required to contribute significant amounts toward building operations, they should have clear access to financial information and confidence that their money is being managed responsibly.

A major concern raised at the demonstration involved condominium board elections.

Unlike municipal, provincial or federal elections, condominium board elections are generally organized and administered within the condominium corporation itself.

Critics argue that the absence of independent electoral supervision can create opportunities for disputes over voting procedures, access to information and the fairness of election results.

Some protesters alleged that inadequate oversight allows certain board members to retain control of residential buildings for extended periods, making it difficult for dissatisfied owners to bring about leadership changes.

They warned that weak governance can contribute to expensive legal disputes, insufficient building maintenance and potential misuse of condominium funds.

However, such concerns do not necessarily indicate wrongdoing by condominium boards generally, and allegations involving individual corporations must be assessed on their own evidence.

Another Mississauga condominium owner, Ghufran Siddiqui, described his personal experience dealing with condominium governance and the challenges of obtaining records.

Siddiqui said he moved into his condominium with his family approximately five years ago and subsequently encountered problems involving elevator access, building amenities and maintenance following a water leak affecting his unit.

He has not accused anyone of wrongdoing in connection with those maintenance issues.

Last year, Siddiqui decided to run for a position on his condominium board, challenging two incumbent directors.

After losing the election, he requested access to election-related documents and financial records.

When he was unable to obtain the information he sought, he brought the matter before the Condominium Authority Tribunal, an online dispute resolution body established to help condominium owners and corporations address certain disagreements.

The tribunal ordered the release of specific records, but the condominium board appealed the decision to the Divisional Court.

More than a year later, Siddiqui said he was still waiting for numerous documents and had received a legal letter seeking payment of legal costs.

He described the experience as emotionally exhausting and financially damaging, saying the dispute had taken time and attention away from his family.

His experience reflects one of the central complaints raised by protesters: that ordinary condominium owners can face lengthy and expensive legal processes when attempting to obtain information or challenge decisions made by their boards.

The demonstrators want Ontario to establish a more accessible system for resolving condominium disputes without requiring residents to become involved in prolonged court proceedings.

Among their principal demands is an expansion of the Condominium Authority Tribunal’s jurisdiction to allow faster resolution of disputes involving board elections.

They also want an independent organization to supervise condominium voting procedures, arguing that neutral oversight would improve confidence in election results and reduce allegations of unfair practices.

Another proposal would introduce mandatory term limits for condominium board members, restricting directors to two consecutive terms or a maximum of six continuous years in office.

Supporters believe term limits could encourage new leadership, prevent excessive concentration of authority and provide more residents with opportunities to participate in building governance.

The Ontario government, meanwhile, maintains that it is already taking steps to strengthen condominium protections.

In a statement issued Thursday, Giulia Paikin, press secretary for Stephen Crawford, Ontario’s minister of public and business service delivery and procurement, said the province recognizes the importance of protecting condominium owners and ensuring accountability.

The government emphasized that homeowners must be able to trust that their investments are secure, their legal rights are respected and their concerns receive appropriate attention.

Provincial officials also pointed out that the Condominium Act already provides mechanisms allowing owners to call meetings and vote to remove board directors.

However, the government acknowledged that further changes are planned.

New regulations concerning condominium owners’ meetings are scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026.

Additional reforms are expected on July 1, 2027, when the Condominium Authority Tribunal’s authority will be expanded to address disputes involving the procedures used to call meetings.

Under those changes, the tribunal will also be permitted to award damages of up to $50,000 to affected condominium owners in matters within its expanded jurisdiction.

The government presents these measures as part of a broader effort to improve consumer protection and strengthen accountability in the condominium sector.

Protesters, however, argue that the announced reforms do not fully address their demands for independent election oversight, stricter governance rules and faster resolution of election-related disputes.

Representatives from the Condominium Authority of Ontario also attended the Queen’s Park demonstration to hear directly from residents.

Aleks Dhefto, a spokesperson for the authority, said protecting condominium consumers remains an important priority.

He encouraged owners who are dissatisfied with their buildings’ management to become more involved in condominium governance.

According to Dhefto, residents can help bring about change by participating in board elections, examining financial statements, reviewing communications from their condominium corporations and seeking support from fellow owners.

He suggested that greater resident participation can help improve accountability and encourage better decision-making within condominium communities.

Legal professionals have also cautioned against assuming that the problems described by protesters are representative of the entire condominium sector.

Toronto condominium lawyer Shawn Pulver said he believes boards that consistently disregard their responsibilities are exceptions rather than the norm.

He explained that condominium directors are expected to make reasonable decisions, act in good faith and consider the best interests of the corporations they represent.

Pulver acknowledged that some problematic boards can create serious difficulties for residents, but emphasized that many condominium directors and community advocates work responsibly to maintain their buildings.

The debate has also attracted attention from opposition politicians at Queen’s Park.

Jessica Bell, the New Democratic Party member of provincial parliament for University-Rosedale, called for stronger regulation and more effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

Bell argued that the provincial government has the authority to ensure condominium residents live in safe, properly maintained buildings and can resolve disagreements through affordable and accessible procedures.

She said Ontario needs a regulatory framework that provides meaningful protection without forcing homeowners into unnecessarily complicated or expensive legal battles.

The dispute comes at a time when condominium ownership remains an important part of Ontario’s housing market, particularly in Toronto and surrounding municipalities.

For many families, condominium apartments offer a more attainable route into homeownership than detached houses, although rising purchase prices, maintenance fees and special assessments can create substantial financial pressures.

Unlike traditional homeowners, condominium residents share responsibility for common property and building expenses while relying on elected boards to oversee maintenance, budgets, contracts and other important decisions.

That arrangement makes transparency and trust essential to the effective operation of condominium communities.

When disputes arise over financial records, elections or maintenance decisions, residents may find themselves in conflict with the very organizations responsible for managing their properties.

The protesters believe the province must establish stronger safeguards to ensure that condominium boards remain answerable to the homeowners they represent.

For the Ontario government, the challenge will be balancing the need for stronger consumer protections with the practical responsibilities of condominium corporations and volunteer directors.

As the December 2026 and July 2027 regulatory changes approach, residents and housing advocates will be watching closely to determine whether the reforms provide meaningful improvements.

For those who gathered at Queen’s Park, the issue extends beyond individual disagreements with condominium boards. They see it as a broader question of property rights, financial accountability and fairness for millions of Ontario residents.

Their message to provincial lawmakers is that condominium ownership should not leave homeowners facing excessive costs, limited transparency or lengthy legal disputes simply to exercise their rights.

Whether the government’s planned reforms will satisfy those concerns remains uncertain, but the growing public pressure suggests that condominium governance will continue to be an important housing and consumer protection issue in Ontario.

Courtesy: CBC