January 31, 2023

President's Message
I'm proud to announce that the 2023 CAHPI National Standards of Practice (SOP) are now available and we encourage all inspectors across Canada to incorporate this document on your websites, client correspondence and inspection reports.  READ MORE

Leveraging CAHPI's Social Media Presence
As CAHPI members, you have an opportunity to enhance your professional standing.  Access this NEW Best Practices article and others by logging into the CAHPI Member's Dashboard and selecting the CAHPI Education eLearning Portal. READ MORE

Don't Get Caught In The Cold Or The Dark!
Order your CAHPI branded LED toque today! Features ... Embroidered CAHPI name and logo; Headlight pops out of the turn-back cuff for washing; Headlight has three brightness settings; Headlight is charged with USB cable; Fabric is a thick rib knit with crown darts for a shaped fit.
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Secondary Suites for Houses Design Considerations
Orderline
This course will provide an understanding of the Ontario Building Code 2012 requirements for the design and construction of a secondary suite in a house.
Online Course Secondary Suites for Houses Design Considerations
Book Design and Construction Guide for Secondary Suites for Houses
Complete Pack: Secondary Suites for Houses Design Considerations including Ontario Building Code  READ MORE

Need Training… Check Out These Courses?
Check the CAHPI website for upcoming online training courses, webinars, or seminars that are offered across Canada. You can also earn CAHPI MRCs (membership renewal credits) with AEC Daily, they are the largest provider of online continuing education to the Construction, Architectural, Interior Design and Engineering community.  CAHPI MRCs are recorded on the calendar year (January 1 to December 31) choose from any of the listed programs and check the CAHPI Dashboard document library for a list of MRC activities and their value.
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FREE Online Flood Risk Course for Home Inspectors
Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
"How Home Inspectors Can Help Protect their Clients from Flooding" course is now available online across Canada through the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) and Carson Dunlop's websites. The course provides practical information for home inspectors, to help their clients address the growing threat of home flooding across the country. The course was developed as a collaborative effort between CAHPI, Carson Dunlop and the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (Intact Centre) at the University of Waterloo. This online training course is a free, 1.5-hour and self-directed… READ MORE

Incorporating the Impact of Climate Change into Models Related to Housing and Housing Finance
CMHC/SCHL
We commissioned Prism Economics and Analysis to do a literature review of the economic modelling of climate change and how it relates to housing and housing finance. This study deepens our understanding of climate change models used to assess risks. READ MORE 

NEW Consumer Product Incident Reporting Form for Fire and Safety Authorities
Health Canada
In Canada, consumer product fires are reported at the local fire department level and generic information is often collected provincially, but product details are rarely retained or universally shared. Collecting and amalgamating specific information about consumer products, which are responsible for fires, injuries and deaths helps Health Canada to monitor safety and potentially take corrective action - such as recalling products - that might help prevent future fires.

Health Canada recently amended the Consumer Product Incident Reporting page on its website to include a new dedicated reporting form for Fire Officials and Electrical Safety Regulators. This intake form is an abbreviated version of the regular form and uses terminology more familiar to fire professionals. Thanks to this new form, fire professionals can now more easily provide information about fire incidents related to consumer products directly to Health Canada. We hope that increased reporting of fire incidents through this form will help reinforce our ability to monitor the safety of consumer products and help improve the safety of Canadians.

We invite you to become familiar with the form and encourage you to report any fires that result from consumer products though our new form. Thank you for your time and your consideration. If you have any questions, please contact CPS-SPC@HC-SC.GC.CA

Subscribe to Consumer Product Safety News
Health Canada
Consumer Product Safety would like to invite you to subscribe to their electronic newsletter. Subscribers receive updates when new information, consumer advisories and warnings, consumer product recalls, and consultation documents regarding consumer product safety are posted on the Health Canada Web site. SUBSCRIBE

Certain Ortal TR90 and TR110 Gas Fireplaces Recalled Due To Fire Hazard
Health Canada
Issue: Improper installation of the fireplaces can lead to problems with heat release and/or ventilation, posing a fire hazard.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fireplaces and contact Ortal to arrange for a free inspection to determine if a free retrofit plate kit is required.
READ MORE

Westinghouse branded Current Taps with Surge Protector Recalled Due To Fire Hazard
Health Canada
Issue: The accredited certification body issued a public notice after receiving a consumer incident and identifying a risk of electrical shock. An electric short will develop when this product is connected to a wall outlet with a two-line feed, posing a risk of electrical shock and a fire hazard to the user and bystanders. Health Canada believes that this product likely poses a danger to human health or safety.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and dispose of it in accordance with the applicable local transportation and waste requirements for electronic products. READ MORE

Explore Careers In Energy Efficiency
NRCan
Join a network of energy experts. Make money by helping others save money. Natural Resources Canada needs you to be part of Canada's green economic recovery. With the new Canada Greener Homes Grant, NRCan is recruiting more energy advisors (EAs) and service organizations (SOs). As an EA and/or SO you will help Canadian homeowners save on their energy bills. READ MORE

Final numbers for 2022 show another year of NatCats reaching over $3 billion in insured damages (and, at $3.1 billion, the third highest total NatCat losses in Canadian history). Those figures don't just point to more insured damages losses for the industry, but rather are a signal that weather events are worsening as our climate warms, one expert suggested. READ MORE

N.L. Urges buyers to get home inspection, but province won't commit to regulating industry
CBC News
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is encouraging consumers to get a home inspection before purchasing but won't commit to oversight of the unregulated industry. There are no formal requirements to become a home inspector in most of Canada — with the exception of B.C. and Alberta. Critics say that leaves very little protection for home buyers who often rely on the results of an inspection before buying a house. READ MORE 

CBC News
Bonnie Paul thought she'd found the perfect house. It had an apartment, a reliable tenant and few stairs — which would be helpful for when she retired and grew old there. Before Paul made an offer on the Mount Pearl property, she got an inspection from someone she believed was a licensed home inspector. The report noted five "critical" items that needed repair all things that Paul said were inconsequential. More important to her, the report said her roof was good for at least another decade. READ MORE

Real Estate Magazine
Ontario's industry regulator is "not always effective and timely" when it comes to ensuring real estate professionals comply with laws and regulations, according to a new report from the province's auditor general. On Wednesday, Bonnie Lysyk released her annual report on the government's spending, which included detailed findings on the Real Estate Council of Ontario's (RECO) inner workings. The province's Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery oversees RECO. READ MORE