As mentioned in a May 16 CREB®Talk article, I was invited to represent CREB® on the Realtor.ca Task Force. However, on Aug. 30, our Board of Directors supported my decision to resign from the Task Force.
In the May 16 CREB®Talk article, I stated that the process had me in a state of unease. Although there is a confidentiality agreement that all members of the Task Force were required to sign, I can say that my apprehension did not go away during my time on the Task Force.
I can also say that there is much about this project that I agree with and that I’m supportive of all the work that the Task Force is doing. But the process and the sequence for engagement are key elements in this work, too, and when something or someone does not align with the principles of our Board, a decision must be made. Against this backdrop, it was not hard to weigh the interests of CREB® and our members versus the risks around this project.
Immediately after my resignation, it became clear there were significant challenges in aligning the Task Force and CREA on what is best for Realtor.ca. It is clear that there are forces involved that are undermining good governance and appear to be systemic in nature.
This has been a rapidly evolving file since my resignation was submitted on Aug. 30. At the Board of Directors meeting on Sept. 13, I advised the Board I had been invited to rejoin the Task Force and set aside my resignation. After a robust discussion, the Board decided strategically that it was advantageous not to be constrained by a confidentiality agreement. Although I cannot talk about details from my time on the Task Force, CREB®’s Board of Directors has empowered me to be a vocal advocate in support of our membership and in support of the fundamental principle that REALTOR.ca is held in trust by CREA, whose primary role is to be the steward of REALTOR® data from across Canada, for the benefit of REALTORS®.
On Sept. 12, CREA sent a notice of a Special General Meeting on Oct. 18 to all Boards and Associations across Canada. Interestingly, when writing this email, CREA has still not presented a motion for Boards and Associations to vote on. So far, CREA has advised the leadership across the country that we are expected to attend this meeting in person for a “directional endorsement exercise on the future of Realtor.ca.” For CREB®, our goal is for Realtor.ca to continue to be a reliable source of business for our members.
Our focus during this short time leading up to the CREA SGM will be to consider positions that serve our members' interests. As stated in our 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan, the Board of Directors has one priority – our members.
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