We are building our home and purchased the Hampton Bay Altura 56 Fan. The electrician installed a switch on the wall for the fan - but the fan only operates with the remote and does not function with the wall switch - I do not want a remote... I want it to operate from the wall switch but the electrician states it is only operable from remote. Is that right?

No, the fan will operate by the wall switch if the remote was previously in the on position. Turn the wall switch on and then start the fan with the remote. Put the remote away and the wall switch should continue to perform on and off but not various speed unless you installed a stepped wall switch. Modern Fan Multi-Fan Speed Controls - 009B

I have no idea what this fan is since I don't work for HD/HB nor is this site affiliated with them, but if the remote receiver is built into the body of the fan you can only control it via the remote. The wall switch will only turn it on and off.
If the remote is a unit in the ceiling canopy of the fan it can most likely be removed, but unless the room was wired for a fan and light to be controlled separately again the switch will only turn it on and off.