Premier Greg Selinger opened the fall session of the Manitoba Legislature with the throne speech on Monday, and there were a few items that may have a direct impact on housing and renovations.
The government announced the development of legislation to support "granny suites," an attached residence on a dwelling for an elderly parent. Manitobans are definitely living longer now, and having a parent move in with their children may be a viable solution.
However, if you're considering some form of attached residence, addition or significant alteration to your existing residence, contact a professional.
Optimize the work to be done not just for the time that the parent is living with you, but also for that inevitable time when the suite becomes vacant or when you sell your home. A professional RenoMark renovator can help you with that process.
On other throne speech matters, the current version of the Manitoba Condominium Act has been in effect since September 1, 2006. The Manitoba Home Builders' Association has been in consultation with the Finance Department and Consumer and Corporate Affairs reviewing possible changes and upgrades to the act that will benefit all Manitobans, both consumers and builders alike.
As well, the throne speech contained a couple of references to addressing the skills shortage in Manitoba, an issue mentioned frequently in this column.
With a forecasted shortfall of 10,000 skilled tradespeople in the construction industry over the next eight years, it's hoped that the Economic Advisory Council will address the skills shortage and expedite the movement of skilled trades to our province.
One item announced Monday that may not appear on everyone's radar screen is the giving of authority to municipalities to seize vacant or derelict buildings. If applied to derelict houses or commercial buildings in an area that could be rezoned as residential, this legislation could bring new life to neighbourhoods that are now decaying.
Trying to fix a neighbourhood one house at a time is an agonizingly slow process. Areas that are dominated by vacant or derelict buildings need a complete overhaul, not a Band-aid. This legislation could be the start of something huge in our community.
If this is an olive branch being extended to other levels of government and the private sector and it's backed up by all of the necessary tools to make a real difference, we all need to seize it.
Mike Moore is president of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
