A Challenge to the MLS System

Over the past few years there have been challenges to the Canadian MLS system, in that parties have been listing properties on MLS without paying a nominal commission to the selling broker and legal challenges that allow private parties to list on the MLS system. The problem has come to a head in the past six months. CREA (the Canadian Real Estate Association) has received legal opinions that our trademarks are in jeopardy and we need to take action to protect them. The issues are all related to listings and transactions that have little professional involvement with CREA Members.
The CREA Board of Directors has taken action by making proposals that would stop the problem. However, some boards, specifically Toronto and Montreal (the two largest boards in Canada) are opposed to the changes because of legal issues happening within their own boards. After doing some research, CREA has discovered that should a vote be held now, the vote would be almost exactly 50/50. CREA, in their wisdom has decided not to call a vote because, whichever way it went, the decision would clearly divide the country. Here is a document on Realtorlink that you can read and help you understand the dilemma . Protecting the MLS Trademarks (You'll need to put in your board ID and password access it.) Instead, they have decided to hold "Town Hall" meetings across the country to help members understand the dilemma that we are facing. One such meeting is being held at Bingeman's in Kitchener on Wednesday, Novemeber 22nd at 2 PM. I would encourage you to attend. It is a topic that I think most us are not up to speed, and yet it is clearly a very important issue to all of us. Georges Pahud, a Prudential broker in Vancouver, and a CREA director told me recently, that if we don't move forward with the changes, we will end up splintering MLS into many more MLS systems that will not be good for anybody.
Please try to make an effort to attend the meeting on the 22nd.