The Meritus Group

We are so thankful to have received this award for the 3rd year in a row!

CommunityVotes Pickering 2025 Official 2026 Community Voting Awards Platform for Pickering, ON. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

Thank you to PM Springfest and ACMO for giving Meritus Group President, Dean McCabe, the opportunity to speak about a topic our industry needs to keep talking about: the mental health and well-being of condominium managers.

Condominium management is rewarding but demanding work.
Managers are often the first call when something goes wrong.
They respond to emergencies, manage conflict, support residents through difficult situations, navigate legal and operational responsibilities, and carry the pressure of knowing that their decisions can directly affect people’s homes, finances, and sense of safety.

As Dean shared, this work requires more than technical knowledge. It requires emotional labour, judgment under pressure, managers to stay calm when others are upset, to respond professionally when they are criticized, and to continue showing up even after difficult days.

That takes a toll.

One of the most important messages from Dean’s presentation was simple: we can't expect condo managers to carry these pressures alone. We need to talk about stress, burnout, and anxiety, and make it easier to talk about mental health more openly. We need to look out for one another, and workplaces, boards, colleagues, and industry partners that recognize the human side of this profession.

Thank you again to PM Springfest and ACMO for creating space for this important conversation, and to everyone in the industry who continues to help move it forward.

Nataliya Antonenko Anthony Youssef Glen R.

Small acts of kindness matter.
Words have impact.
Standing up for someone can change their entire day.

Bullying thrives in silence.
Be the reason someone feels safe today.

Understanding the CAT’s Latest Clarification on “Records” vs. “Information”

The CAT's decision on December 3, 2025, continues to reinforce an important distinction in Ontario’s condominium law: the difference between records and information.

Although the Condo Authority of Ontario reminds the sector that CAT decisions are not formally precedent-based, this case closely follows the Tribunal’s approach in Govindu v. York Condominium Corporation No. 456, 2025 ONCAT 188.

In Govindu, the Tribunal offered a clear statement that is now resurfacing in subsequent rulings:

“The Act does not set out a framework for the entitlement of unit owners to information, rather it sets out the entitlement of unit owners to records. These two things are distinct. … Information can exist without being contained in a record. Simply putting the term ‘record’ in front of a request for information does not turn that information into a record that exists, ought to exist or to which an owner is entitled.”

The decision released this week applies that same reasoning. The Tribunal again held that a corporation’s obligation is to provide existing records that fall within the categories defined in the Act and regulation. A corporation is not required to create new documents, compile explanations, or produce information that is not required to exist in record form.

This distinction matters because many owner requests are framed as “records requests” when they are actually requests for clarification, narrative explanations, or operational details. The Tribunal has now repeatedly confirmed that such information is not automatically a “record,” even if the requester labels it as one.

Why this matters for boards and managers:

• Corporations must maintain and disclose records that the Act requires, but they're not expected to generate new documents that aren't required by legislation simply to satisfy an informational request.

• Owners retain broad access rights to existing, prescribed records, but not to all forms of information about how decisions were made.

• Understanding this divide helps reduce conflict, streamline responses, and ensure compliance with the Act’s actual requirements.

So, while CAT decisions are not binding precedent, the Tribunal is shows consistent interpretation when it comes to the scope of an owner’s entitlement to records. That consistency is helping clarify the rights and responsibilities of managers, boards and owners, and helps cement the boundary of reasonableness.

Smith v. Peterborough Condominium Corporation No. 38 - Condominium Authority of Ontario

The Meritus Group is proud to have been the recipient of the Platinum Award in CommunityVotes Pickering’s Property Management category in both 2023 and 2024.

We love the communities we serve and look forward to a bright year ahead as we continue building strong relationships with residents, boards, and partners across Pickering.

If you believe in the work we do, we would be grateful for your support again this year. CommunityVotes Pickering is now open, and you can find us
here: https://pickering.communityvotes.com/n/1600030-the-meritus-group-condominium-management

Thank you to everyone who has placed their trust in us. Your confidence is what motivates our team every day.

Vote for The Meritus Group Condominium Management – CommunityVotes Pickering 2025 Official 2025 Community Voting Awards Platform for Pickering, ON. Where the community votes for their favourites every year.

Important Update: CAT Expansion May Soon Reshape Condo Governance

A new article from the REMI Network outlines proposed amendments to the Condo Act that could significantly expand the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT) to include disputes about how owners’ meetings are conducted.

If adopted, the CAT would be able to hear matters related to meeting notices, quorum, voting procedures, requisition meetings, and other core governance matters. This could make dispute resolution more accessible for owners, but it also means greater scrutiny for boards and managers and the potential for increased CAT applications.

The article highlights best practices corporations should reinforce now:
• Follow notice requirements and prescribed forms
• Apply the corporation’s by-laws and rules of order consistently
• Ensure transparency in elections and proxy handling
• Prepare thoroughly and manage agendas tightly
• Seek legal guidance proactively when needed

As we anticipate this next stage of CAT evolution, strong governance and clear procedures will be essential to protect corporations from delays, disputes, and unnecessary costs.

Worth the read for anyone involved in condo governance in Ontario.

https://www.reminetwork.com/articles/cat-expansion-poised-shift-condo-governance/

CAT expansion poised to shift condo governance - REMI Network Proposed amendments could soon expand the jurisdiction of Ontario’s Condominium Authority Tribunal (the CAT).

✨It’s Local Government Week! ✨

This Week in Durham Stories we are celebrating the incredible people, services, and programs that help keep running every day. Read the full story here: bit.ly/3Jhe08i

Whether it’s maintaining roads and infrastructure, delivering clean drinking water, operating transit, supporting public health, or keeping communities safe, is working behind the scenes to shape your daily life in meaningful ways. 🚓👷💧🚍🚑

is from October 19 to 25, it’s a chance to learn more about how different levels of government work together to serve you. Curious who does what? Visit durham.ca/Durham101 to explore our interactive map, curriculum resources, and more!

Let’s celebrate the teamwork, transparency, and dedication that makes Durham Region a great place to call home. 💙