700 Ontario Homes Insulated with UFFI

Over the last 18 months, approximately 700 Homes have been insulated by RetroFoam Canada with a form of urea formaldehyde-based thermal insulation (UFFI), called RetroFoam. This type of insulation was prohibited in Canada in December 1980 under the Hazardous Products Act.

The complete advisory from Health Canada:

OTTAWA - Health Canada is informing consumers that RetroFoam of Canada Incorporated imported and illegally sold RetroFoam insulation in Canada. RetroFoam is a urea formaldehyde-based thermal insulation (UFFI). This type of insulation was prohibited in Canada in December 1980 under the Hazardous Products Act. Health Canada was recently advised that RetroFoam has been installed in a limited number of homes in Ontario.

Once Health Canada became aware the Hazardous Products Act had been contravened, the department took prompt compliance and enforcement action. Health Canada issued a "cease and desist" letter to RetroFoam of Canada Incorporated, the Canadian importer of the insulation, to stop all importation and sale of RetroFoam in Canada. Health Canada also instructed Enerliv, the Canadian distributor of RetroFoam, to stop all sale, advertisement and further installations of the product and to call back any unused product. RetroFoam, RetroFoam of Canada Inc., and Enerliv were placed on Canada Border Service Agency's automated system target list to prevent any future importation of this product. As a result of Health Canada's actions, RetroFoam is no longer available for sale or installation in Canada.

RetroFoam of Canada Inc. is responsible for ensuring that the products they import, sell or advertise meet the requirements of the Hazardous Products Act and its regulations. Health Canada is currently reviewing its legal options.

Urea formaldehyde insulation is prohibited in Canada because it may release formaldehyde gas into indoor air. Health Canada is taking further regulatory action to protect the health and safety of homeowners who have had RetroFoam installed in their homes by supporting them in having their indoor air quality tested.

Health Canada will be communicating directly with homeowners to provide further details on how they can obtain Government support for having their indoor air quality tested. Additional information will be available shortly on the Department’s Website and is available via a toll-free number: 1-800-443-0395.

Land Transfer Tax Rebate

Please note that this information is outdated

In December of 2007, proposed amendment's to the Land Transfer Tax Act were announced in the 2007 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review. These proposed amendments need to be passed by the Legislature and receive Royal Assent to become law.

The proposal is to include Resale Homes in the Land Transfer Tax Refund Program, for First-Time Homebuyers, to a maximum of $2000.00. This proposal was effective as of December 13, 2007. Agreements of Purchase and Sale that were entered into after December 13, 2007, could possibly qualify.

Until the proposed changes pass through the Legislature and receive Royal Assent the following will apply to First-Time Homebuyers of Resale Homes.

• Land Transfer Tax must be paid at registration
• A copy of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, a copy of the registered instrument on which the land transfer tax was paid, and a properly completed form - Ontario Land Transfer Tax Refund Affidavit must be submitted to the Ministry of Revenue

The applicable refund will be paid once the Proposals become Law

For full eligibility requirements go to the following link:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/notices/ltt/0207.html

Monday Blues

Have you ever thought to yourself....What am I doing? Why did I come into work? Your head is 20 lbs heavier than normal, breathing is hard as you can't seem to clear your sinuses! Is it yet another cold in a long line of them...or is it allergies...or is it just Monday, and the weekend didn't last long enough!!



Even if you have the answer to any of these questions, it doesn't make the inevetible any different...it's still Monday and you're at the office...wondering...What am I doing? Why did I come into work?



Personally, I came into work, because I LOVE my job. I work with my Family, and I have to tell you...it's true, what doesn't kill you, will only make you stronger. Working with Family has brought us closer together. For a long time it didn't seem like that was the case, but this family has made it work in spades. We all know that sometimes when the *?#% hits the fan, it's the family member thats going to feel the brunt of it. We also know, that when we're not at the office, the shoptalk stays at the office, so we can just enjoy being a family.



This doesn't work for a lot of people, but it does for us. Real Estate is not the first venture we have had as a family, it is the last however, as we have found our niche.



We look forward on a daily basis to helping Families Find Homes.



Christine

First Time Blogging

I am a rookie at blogging, but have been interested in idea of what blogging is for awhile now. As this is a first for me, i would welcome any comments and ideas anyone out there in the blogosphere could give me, to improve the style and nature of what gets written here.

I am a full time Realtor with Sutton Group All Pro Realty Inc., as are most of my immediate family. I am based in the Peterborough Ontario region, we have members that work the Durham and City of Kawartha Lakes regions as well.

Our team members consist of Jack, Susan, Dennis and Christine Roberts, Charles Genge and Laura Parker. Jack is the Broker of Record for Sutton Group All Pro Realty Inc., Brokerage, Dennis is a Broker, Charles, christine and Susan are Sales Representatives with Laura as our Executive Assistant.

All of us will be posting blogs here, about our day-to-day adventures and daily life, hopefully on a frequent basis.

I hope you come back again and again to see what's new.

Christine