In recent years, Tarion has faced many angry new home purchasers at its Annual Public Meeting (APM). Some consumers have referred to recent Tarion APMs as a “circus” – others have called it a “fiasco”. Toronto Star columnist Ellen Roseman wrote after last year's APM: “…I’d heard that Tarion annual meetings could be raucous affairs, where the staff faced a barrage of questions and complaints from home buyers…”. Recent Tarion APMs have been a combination of a traditional in-person meeting, combined with a web-cast in which consumers could participate in the APM live via the Internet. In 2015 Tarion's communication about its APM highlighted that it provided an opportunity “for the public to directly interact with Tarion’s Board of Directors, management and employees”. But yesterday Tarion announced that this year’s APM will be virtual only. Tarion’s CEO Howard Bogach said after “reviewing the cost benefits….we made the decision to web cast this year’s meeting”. http://tinyurl.com/zugazyx Really, cost benefits? Just last week Tarion held its big annual builder awards event, which undoubtedly cost much more than the combination in-person/web-cast style APM that Tarion has held in the past. Could it be that Tarion just doesn’t want to face its customers at its APM? Could this decision have anything to do with the woes of one of its Tarion-approved builders - Urbancorp - that recently declared bankruptcy, leaving many, many Toronto area homeowners in the lurch and with potential deposit losses? Could this decision have anything to do with the Tarion Review that is underway by Justice Cunningham? One thing is clear: Tarion’s decision to cancel the in-person portion of its APM is seen by many as a very regressive step – a blow to accountability and transparency. This is another reason to #EndTarionMonopolyNOW. Please keep those petition signatures coming!