New home warranty program delayed

EDMONTON- A new mandatory warranty program designed to protect people buying new homes across the province has been delayed, and opposition members are speaking out.

The New Home Buyer Protection Act was passed in November 2012, and was originally supposed to come into effect this fall. However, that date has been pushed back to February 1, 2014.

Liberal Municipal Affairs Critic Laurie Blakeman says the delay was quietly published on the governments website and shes upset the ministry wasnt more up-front about the new timeline.

They hadnt bothered to tell us, which I think is disrespectful to Albertans. And secondly, that it was only when they got caught that they said oh yes well, this will be the new date.

Ninety per cent of homes built in Alberta already have new home warranty, but the new legislation will require all builders to provide more comprehensive home warranty coverage for all new homes built in the province.

Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths says its important that the government get the Act right, and the delay was necessary in order for the regulations to be reviewed.

I dont want to do it so that we make some mistakes, that creates problems. Were dealing with consumer protection and safety of the largest investment that people are going to make in their lives for the most part, and so we want to make sure we get that right.

Griffiths says the province had no intention of hiding the new timeline.

We anticipated that people who are interested are going to be watching and lots of people have found it on the website. It wasnt meant to hide anything for anybody.

He says the companies that will be offering the warranties simply had a few issues and questions, and wanted more time to ensure everything was in place before the Act came into effect.

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New home warranty program delayed