[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Zoupa]

Probably has to do with new condos being des cages à lapin, fait avec des matériaux cheap qui faut que tu répares sans arrêt. Sans parler des frais de condo ridicules.

[Grey Fox]

Condos fees might be ridiculous but they are not high enough. How many funds have the required millions for actual roof replacement?

[crazy canuck]

Probably has to do with new condos being des cages à lapin, fait avec des matériaux cheap qui faut que tu répares sans arrêt. Sans parler des frais de condo ridicules.

I apologize, what does that mean?

[garbon]

Rabbit cages and cheap materials

[Sheilbh]

Yeah - I have the same fear with any new builds here

[Richard Hakluyt]

Best to stick to pre 1914 houses in the UK

[Zoupa]

Rabbit cages and cheap materials

yeah, and needing repairs almost right away. It's ridiculous. Build quality has taken a nosedive in the last 20 years.

[crazy canuck]

Rabbit cages and cheap materials

yeah, and needing repairs almost right away. It's ridiculous. Build quality has taken a nosedive in the last 20 years.

Is that because building codes are insufficient or not being enforced, or perhaps both?

[Grey Fox]

I'm thinking both. We famously have an inspection problem with our building code. No matter how sufficient it is or not barely matters if there's no one to check.

[crazy canuck]

American lobsters have had enough, and are coming to Canada 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/us-business/article-us-lobster-catch-drops-as-crustaceans-migrate-to-colder-canadian/

[Valmy]

A massive increase in the price of lobster is one way to punish the American oligarchy.

Though they powered through high caviar prices during the Cold War.

[viper37]

Rabbit cages and cheap materials

yeah, and needing repairs almost right away. It's ridiculous. Build quality has taken a nosedive in the last 20 years.

Is that because building codes are insufficient or not being enforced, or perhaps both?

Construction is heavily regulated in Quebec, but not for the actual qualifications of anyone.

Some group of workers pass exams dated from the 60s (antique building codes) with a union representative to give them the answers.  Entrepreneurs can get their license with a basic exam that is about the level of what a worker would need to pass to get his certificate, plus basic administrative skills (which most don't have) and a security exam.

Then when it comes to building... The government's agency, Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) almost never does any inspections, it leaves enforcement of the code in the hands of the architects and engineers.  In 30 years, I was called twice for an inspection by them, we did on average 75 projects per year, big or small. They came to inspect 1 big project and... a patio (residential).

In theory, it should still work.  If you are on a commercial or industrial project, the engineer and architects are hired by the clients and do their regular inspections every step of the way, each according to their specialties.

What happens with condos?  The builder hires his own architects and engineer to produce plans, but there's no legal requirement to have them inspect the work.  All they do is produce drawings, stamp them, the contractor submits them to the city for approval and then starts the work (ok, some 2-4 years later, depending on the city...)

There is a system of warranty for new houses, apartments and condos, but it's fucking trash and they don't have their own inspectors.  They rely on the submitted drawings and a fee paid for by the contractor to register its unit.  The problems will arise when there is an actual problem:  the warranty will often refuse to pay, or pay an insufficient amount, asking the owners to turn toward the builder instead.  It is a mess and no one really wants to fix it.

Small silver lining:  Houses and apartments built to the Novoclimat certification have to be inspected thoroughly at each steps.  But they are few, given the extra costs involved.

You get to save a lot on heating and cooling after that, but people don't realize this when shopping for a new house/condo.