CHBA-Alberta gave a presentation on their experience with RenoMark including background on the renovation industry in Alberta and how they went about establishing RenoMark in 3 of their locals in 2004. Some of the many benefits that have resulted include market recognition, a more integrated role for renovators in the locals and a refocus by the media onto positive stories. They also reviewed the variety of marketing support products and activities provided. CHBA-Alberta expects to double their RenoMark membership of 66 companies by this time next year.

Guide to Renovation Contracts

Comments on the revised draft of this proposed guideline were reviewed and changes made to the text. Members were invited to send any final comments to national office following the meeting. There was a consensus that the Guide will be timely and useful. The intention is to send it to renovator members in time for Reno Month in October.

Media Kit

A draft outline of topics proposed for a media was reviewed by the Council. The intention is to make these articles available to locals in time for Reno Month in October. Topics include:

Green Renovations
Renovation Contracts
The need for proper planning
The 3 R’s
Hiring a Renovator in a busy market
Various updates to existing materials

Reno Roadmap Website

Members were taken on a brief tour of this existing CHBA website now that the links on have been updated. The site provides consumer information on a wide range of renovation topics and links to publications from CMHC, NRCan and others. Members were concerned about how the various CHBA renovation sites relate to each other and to the RenoMark website in particular.

Green Renovations

There was an update on the initiative launched at the previous meeting aimed to helping renovators serve this emerging market. A workshop will be held this summer with renovators from across the country to explore this subject in more detail and recommendations will be brought back to the CRC at its next meeting.

Steve Barkhouse, a prominent Ottawa area renovator, gave a presentation on the experience that he and his company have had in responding both to customers and the media on green renovations. He stressed the importance of knowing one’s market and responding to its needs. He reviewed the various sources of information and how he has become and remained knowledgeable. He provided the CRC with a series of recommendations on how the Association could help renovator members to be successful in addressing this market.

The Underground Economy

The Council discussed a letter from the Renovators’ Council of the Greater Ottawa-Carleton HBA concerning the apparent policy of CRA to pursue underground operators by using the association’s membership list. Discussion resulted in a motion that was subsequently adopted by the CHBA Board of Directors calling on CRA to refocus their energies on more fruitful means. After all, underground operators leave no paper trail and don’t join builder associations. The CRC offered to share ideas with CRA on how they might better spend their time including:

tracking large cash transactions at retail construction material outlets,
Seeking documentation at the outset of construction projects rather than auditing after the fact,
Expanding the definition of Substantial Renovation and capturing more information on contractors hired and methods of payment,
Prosecuting more underground operators for fraud,
Requiring a Business Number for all businesses regardless of size or likelihood of paying GST,
Examining the applicability of measures taken by other countries such as Australia to fight the Underground Economy.

CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre gave a presentation on CMHC’s new report that has replaced the Consumer Intentions Survey. This report tracks trends in 10 municipalities and profiles the characteristics of renovation “intenders” in 5 of these centres. It provides information on the type of projects done in 2007 and intended in 2008, the reason for undertaking the work and the average cost. There were fewer households expecting to renovate this year but the average expected cost of renovation has increased.

Using the Internet Effectively

Don Darling, a factory home builder from New Brunswick and member of the CHBA Executive Board gave a presentation using the information provided by Kelly Kubric of the Online Authority, an Ottawa area consultant who had spoken at the National Marketing Committee last year. Not using your website effectively is like leaving a sales office unattended. He used his firm as an example of how to use a strategic approach to making the most of this essential tool.

R-2000 Renovation

The Chair acknowledged receipt of a letter to CHBA from the Minister of Natural Resources opening the door to renovation projects being eligible for R-2000 designation. The Minister was writing in response to a letter from CHBA sent as the result of a letter sent after the last CHBA Board meeting. Members felt that even though the number of such projects would be minimal, it is important to have this “stretch goal” to shoot for.

Reno Month

Members described a number of their successful events that form part of their local Renovation Month activities. The new visual image for this year’s program was also presented. The support of the sponsors was gratefully acknowledged, particularly how Home Hardware uses its flyers and catalogues to amplify the CHBA message.

SAMs

There has been a steady increase in renovation submissions in recent years and by splitting the “full house” category into 2 parts based on cost, it is hoped that there will be further gains this year. The CRC brainstormed on ways to enhance the national SAM awards and to encourage more participation from renovators.

CHBA's Committies and Councils

As usual, there were reports from CHBA’s other committees and councils including the Manufacturers’ Council, National Education and Training Advisory Committee (NETAC), the National Marketing Committee, the Urban Council and the Technical Research Committee.

A case study was presented on the economic impact of the residential sector at the local level which can be developed for other centres on request.
New radon requirements are on the TRC agenda and their impacts on renovation need to be anticipated.
Visible minorities are a growing market and how to access it was presented at the Marketing Committee.Non-conforming products continue to be a focus for the Manufacturers’ Council.
How Canada’s Immigration policy can address the needs of our industry and how to access training funds are a key focus for NETAC.

Provincial HBA Reports

Agency Reports

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April 2008 Whistler, British Columbia

There was a presentation on the progress made by RenoMark over the past year from BILD (formerly the Greater Toronto Home Builders’ Association). There are now 10 local associations signed on and discussions are underway with another 6 locals. A workshop was held recently for representatives of the participating local associations in conjunction with the Metro Home Show where participants saw firsthand how BILD uses RenoMark to market their renovator members. RenoMark is now prominently displayed on the front page of the CHBA website with a link to the RenoMark website.

Guide to Renovation Contracts

A draft of the proposed guideline was used for a clause-by-clause review in the meeting. Feedback was very positive and it was agreed that a revised draft would be circulated to members to use in consultation with others.

Supplementary Clauses

Two clauses that had not been included in the original CRC document were discussed; one on the use of products supplied by the customer and the other on dealing with asbestos and other hazardous products. It was agreed that clauses for these items would be developed and placed on the website as additional information and then included in the next update of the Supplementary Clauses document likely next year.

RC Website Review

Members were taken on a tour of the revised CRC website. Reaction was positive and a number of suggestions were made for improvement including a link to the SAM Award winners, Renovation Month information and on education and training. Members want the site to become a portal for renovators on a broad range of topics.

The Enviroment

There was a wide-ranging discussion on how the CRC could help member renovators to respond to the emerging market for “green” renovations. It was generally agreed that a labeling program for green renovation projects would be problematic and that a designation or certification scheme for green renovators was a more feasible approach. However, there was little interest in proceeding with a designation initiative at this time. Existing advisory information from CMHC was reviewed and suggestions were made about tools for renovators to use with customers.

The Underground Economy

The Council confirmed that fighting the underground economy must remain a priority for CHBA and that we should continue to press for a requirement that all businesses have a business number. CHBA should continue to demand that the CPRS be replaced with measures that actually deal with the cash economy. Regional and local efforts to work with CRA on identifying and prosecuting underground operators should be encouraged. Not only should consumers be made aware of the risks of dealing with the underground, but ways should also be found to discourage such behavior. This might include requiring information on method of payment for applications for the GST rebate.

Tax Harmonization

There was a presentation on recent experience in Saskatchewan regarding GST / PST harmonization. The provincial association was able to convince the provincial government that there would be adverse impacts from this policy if implemented as planned. The CHBA tool kit on harmonization helped to demonstrate the importance of the residential sector and the impact of taxing renovation services.

Database on Energy Efficiency of the Existing Housing Stock

NRCan provided an overview of the information contained in the database created by the EnerGuide and ecoEnergy initiatives. The database provides a detailed portrait of the existing housing stock by region and vintage, the vintage which is being retrofitted the most (1970-79), the potential savings and the most beneficial and common tasks undertaken.

Provincial HBA Reports

British Columbia: (Part 1, Part 2)
Saskatchewan
Alberta
Manitoba
Ontario
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland

Agency Reports

Members' Area