Realtors across the province have sent a clear message calling for more oversight of the Real Estate Council of Ontario.
On Wednesday, Ontario’s nine largest Realtor boards and associations, representing more than 95,000 of the 100,000 Realtors in Ontario, sent a joint letter to the Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford.
The letter urges the government to make RECO subject to independent oversight by the Ontario Ombudsman, noting that the iPro Realty Ltd. case is part of a “troubling pattern” which has “highlighted the need for enhanced transparency and accountability at Ontario’s real estate regulator to improve public confidence and ensure professional integrity.”
The combined statement also endorses the Minister’s commitment to intervene directly, should RECO fail to fulfill its core mandate.
“As Ontario’s largest Realtor associations, we are committed to protecting the public’s confidence in real estate and promoting the highest professional standards in North America,” reads the statement.
The letter is signed by:
- Elechia Barry-Sproule, president, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board
- John DiMichele, CEO, TRREB
- Julie Sergi, chair, Cornerstone Association of Realtors
- Bill Duce, CEO, Cornerstone Association of Realtors
- Paul Czan, president, Ottawa Real Estate Board
- Nicole Christy, CEO, Ottawa Real Estate Board
- Bonnie Looby, president, OnePoint Association of Realtors
- Katrina Steffler, CEO, OnePoint Association of Realtors
- Christine Riley, president, Central Lakes Association of Realtors
- Wendy Giroux, CEO, Central Lakes Association of Realtors
- Dale Marsh, president, London & St. Thomas Association of Realtors
- Bill Madder, CEO, London & St. Thomas Association of Realtors
- Julianna Biondo, president, Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors
- Krista Gionet, CEO, Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors
- Lisa Taylor, chair, Niagara Association of Realtors
- Sarah Hart, CEO, Niagara Association of Realtors
- Ken Mazurek, president, Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board
- Lorraine McLachlan, CEO, Oakville, Milton & District Real Estate Board