Toronto, April 14, 2004 – The Ontario New Home Warranty Program announced today that it is launching a new corporate name and logo to communicate more effectively with new home buyers. The new corporate name "Tarion Warranty Corporation" was introduced today at the Annual Industry Luncheon of the Greater Toronto Home Builder’s Association by Tarion President & CEO, Greg Gee. The Corporation will market itself under the name TARION. Mr. Gee noted that the re-branding represents the next step in a series of improvements that are transforming the Corporation  from being an out-dated, bureaucratic organization, into a modern customer-focused business.

To keep pace with the rapid growth in Ontario’s home building industry and to meet the rising expectations of new home buyers, Tarion has implemented a number of significant improvements over the past year. These changes include new customer service policies for home buyers, a new website, a modern Contact Centre, a standard consumer information package, as well as numerous improvements to business processes. A modern name and logo are now being introduced to help communicate the improvements Tarion has made to customers of the Corporation.

 “We’ve listened to consumers and have made numerous changes over the past year to enhance the customer experience", said Greg Gee, President & CEO of Tarion Warranty Corporation. "Today marks another important step in our ongoing efforts to modernize the Corporation, and to communicate more effectively with consumers and new home buyers across Ontario.”

 Recent improvements introduced at Tarion include:

• A redesigned, user-friendly website, www.tarion.com introduced some months ago which features a broad range of information about warranty protection, a “Find a Builder” area with information about builders, and their customer service and claims histories, as well as helpful publications which can be easily downloaded. This website has been averaging 15,000 to 20,000 visits per month.
• A new centralized Contact Centre which has been created to improve responsiveness and to ensure that customer inquires are handled promptly and professionally. New home buyers and builders can call 1-800-668-0124 toll-free, if they have questions about warranty coverage or business processes, and to find out whether a builder is registered with Tarion. The Contact Centre currently receives more than 3,000 calls per week.
• New Customer Service standards provide a better understanding of what to expect from builders in terms of after sales service. These standards include the introduction of a mandatory pre-delivery inspection, and specific timelines within which builders must provide necessary after sales service.
• A Homeowner Information Package which all buyers of a new home or condominium unit must receive prior to the pre-delivery inspection. This material ensures that all buyers receive adequate information about their warranty coverage, and how to file a claim.
• Construction Performance Guidelines developed by Tarion with the home building industry are a very important new resource for new home buyers and builders. These Guidelines provide factual information to assist with the resolution of warranty service issues, and to help new homeowners understand what is and is not included in their warranty coverage.
• Tarion is taking a more aggressive approach to finding and prosecuting illegal builders.  The organization’s team of eight enforcement officers laid 831 charges in 2003, which represents a 50% increase over the number of changes laid in 2002.

“We are evolving to become a modern, customer-focused business that stands for reputable builders, and peace of mind for new home buyers. We have made significant progress towards this goal already, and there are more improvements to come over the next year.” said Mr. Gee.

The name, Tarion Warranty Corporation, was chosen following extensive research with consumers and builders. The Tarion logo features three pillars which represent the three equal partners in the dispute resolution process – builders, buyers and Tarion – with each party being treated fairly and impartially. It also reflects the diversity of the three main business activities of Tarion which are: Buyer and Builder Education, Warranty Enforcement and Builder Licensing. Although Tarion’s name has changed, its overall mandate for the past 27 years remains the same – “Protecting Ontario’s New Home Buyers”. This promise is also featured prominently as the “tag line” in the Corporation’s new logo.

Tarion has introduced its new brand today, however, the change will occur progressively over the next six months. Marketing activities, which include province-wide advertising, an interactive booth at the 2004 National Home Show in Toronto, as well as presentations to building industry groups and new home buyers will help build awareness about the new name.  A special Tarion registered builder logo has also been created to identify registered builders, and to signify that they have met the stringent requirements set by Tarion for technical knowledge, financial security, and customer service. Only registered builders will be licensed to use the new builder logo in their marketing materials.

About Tarion Warranty Corporation

Tarion Warranty Corporation is a private corporation established in 1976 to administer the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act which outlines the warranty protection that all builders must provide to new home and condominium buyers in Ontario. Tarion licenses home builders and ensures that they abide by this legislation, and that consumers are protected when builders fail to fulfill their warranty obligations. Since inception, over 1.2 million homes have been enrolled by the Corporation.

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For more information, please contact:

Sarah Andrewes

Fleishman-Hillard Canada

Tel: 416-645-8185

Email: andrewes@fleishman.com

or

Brigette Kocijancic

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Tarion Warranty Corporation

Tel: 416-229-3876

Email: Brigette.kocijancic@tarion.com.