CREA and the Competition Bureau

CREA and the Competition Bureau


Over the last few weeks the real estate industry has been front and center in the news. The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the Competition Bureau has been front page news. The issues are very complex and many, including the reporters, don't really understand either side of the disagreement.

Perhaps the most visible issue to the public is allowing the public to list their homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system. Currently a home can only be listed on the MLS system by a licensed realtor, while some in the public want open access to the MLS. We as realtors are certainly prepared to make changes as to how things are listed on MLS but we shouldn't be forced to allow public access as some want.

The reasons reached far beyond the real estate industry. MLS is a privately owned and operated information system. It was built, developed, maintained and paid for by realtors. Should realtors not maintain the right to control who puts information into this system?
MLS is a very successful system, likely the best in the world at what it does. The public does have access to viewing the content of this system through its public portal Realtor.ca. But it is a privately ran information system.

Think of this way. Tim Horton's is very likely the most successfully coffee shop brand in the world. Should you, if you want to sell coffee, force yourself into the local Tim Horton's lobby and be allowed to set up there in order to sell your coffee? I'm sure you agree this is ridicules, but this is exactly what we as realtors are being asked to do.

For me this is why I say this issue reaches beyond the real estate industry. I'll frame this in a different way. The Competition Bureau is forcing a private enterprise to allow its competitors to have access to their proprietary information and advertising system. Maybe your business will be next.

A second issue that directly affects Ontario realtors is some of the things being asked for by the Competition Bureau actual are against the laws covering the real estate industry in Ontario. We as realtors are guided by a Code of Ethics that goes into great details about how we must conduct our selves as realtors.

In actual fact our Code of Conduct is much more than a simple Code. It is the law. Our Code is part of the regulations governing our profession and was enshrined directly in the laws of Ontario. As a result of this Code we can be held legal liable if we break this code. If we do some of the things the Competition Bureau wants, we break the law. (The Competition Bureau is a federal body but they can not change federal or provincial laws.)

CREA's disagreement with the Competition Bureau is a long way from being resolved. Hopefully both sides will step up and reach a settlement that will benefit the public and the real estate profession.

Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell