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Buying a new home?        

If you are looking for a new home in Guelph or the surrounding district, you've come to the right place.  Click GDHBA Builders for list of builder members or Model Homes for a map of model homes in the area.  

 

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See Photo Album for pictures of our winners.

 

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News

ONTARIO REPORT

Tarion's Major Structural Defect (MSD) Warranty Changes-January 1, 2010

The onus and liability for the full seven-year MSD warranty will be the responsibility of the builder or vendor for homes enrolled after January 1, 2010.

 

Federal Renovation Tax Rebate-Expires Janury 31,  2010

Homeowners can claim a tax credit for 15% of renovation expenses between $1,000 and $10,000 for a maximum rebate of $1,350.

 

Mandatory Fire Sprinklers-April 1, 2010

Building 4 storeys and higher will require sprinklers to be installed for building permits filed on or after April 1, 2010.

 

Harmonization of GST and PST

July 1,  2010 in general the new harmonized tax will take effect in Ontario.  Visit www.grca.ca for full details.

 

Municipal Elections-November 2010

Provincial Elections-October 2011

 

Ontario Building Code-for buildings effective December 31,  2011

The OBC will require significant increases in the energy efficiency of buildings.  New homes must meet standards equivalent to EnerGuide 80 while larger residential and new non-residential must meet standards that are 25% higher than the Model National Energy.

 

Mandatory WSIB Coverage-2012

The  Workplace Safety and  Insurance Amendment Act will make WSIB coverage mandatory for independent operators, sole proprietors, partners in a partnershipand executive officers carrying on business in construction.  Expected to become effective by 2012.

 

Ontario College of Trades (Bill 183) 2012

The provincial government is proposing centralizing training and apprenticeship regulations through a College of Trades.  Bill 183 has passed second reading and will be debated in committee hearings during the fall.  If passed in its current form, the College of Trades would be fully operational in  2012.

 

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act-January 1, 2025

Codes and standards are being developed to improve accessibility and freedom of movement within the province in all sectors including transportation, customer service, business and construction (new and existing).

   

 

 

HST SEMINARS BY MILLER THOMSON AND RLB

~NOVEMBER 3, 2009 MILLER THOMSON
 
(Ask Stacy for the PowerPoint Presentation from the seminar)
 
~NOVEMBER 30, 2009 RLB
 
At our recent presentation on the Single Sale Tax in Ontario (HST) we were asked the following question:
 
Can the sale of land and a residential home be separated if the ownership of the land transfers before July 1, 2010 and the home is completed after July 1, 2010?
 
Can a builder of a home that’s value is over $400,000 separate the sale of the land from the building, so that we do not need to charge the Ontario portion of HST on the land (whose title passes before July 1, 2010) but can still get a $24,000 rebate back on the HST on the construction costs which are primarily completed after July 1, 2010 (otherwise we will be required to charge HST on the land component which we wouldn’t get a rebate for).
 
The information presently available does not appear to contemplate a situation exactly like this however the most recent information notice (see attached) sent out by Ontario, page 2, last few paragraphs and top of page 3 discusses the scenario of the land being separated from the building if it is an owner built home. In this scenario it would seem to limit the rebate to $16,080 where no HST was paid on the land.
 
It is likely that the transaction above will be treated in a similar manner to the example on the information notice however we will not know for sure until the further information is made available.
 
We will monitor the situation and let you know when the government has provided further clarification in this area.
 
Also with regards to the RST Transitional Housing Rebate and the floor space method of calculating the estimated embedded RST, the prescribed amount is also included in this the attached notice, on page 6. The prescribed amount is $45 per square metre of floor space in the home.
 
 
 

 

 
Leona MacLellan, CA
RLB LLP - Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors
leona.maclellan@rlb.ca

15 Lewis Road, Guelph, Ontario  N1H 1E9
Tel: x490
Fax: (519) 822-8597

Visit our website at www.rlb.ca

 

 

Ontario Home Builders’ Association

MEDIA RELEASE

 

~July 13, 2009

 

Harmonization Update
 
OHBA and BILD have undertaken a high-level advocacy and information sharing operation with a number of senior cabinet ministers and the Ministry of Finance. Significant progress has been made to enhance the tax structure as well as outlining a transition to the new tax regime that will protect consumers and jobs. Our attention now must be focused on the Federal Government to implement a progressive GST tax structure and to amend the out-dated federal definition of a 'substantial renovation'.
 
To view the CMHC Report, Click Here
The consultations will take place in two phases:
June - September:  Public consultation sessions
October - December: Invitation only specialized stakeholder consultations
 Please contact Stephen Hamilton at or
shamilton@ohba.ca for more information

 

 

 
 Tracking Added July 13, 2009