In February 2021, the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) established a REALTOR® Cooperation Working Group made up of CREA Staff and Executive Officers from various boards and associations across the country. The group was tasked with a review of the issues surrounding cooperation in the industry and solutions that could help address them. Through a consultation process, the working group put forth a recommendation that a policy be adopted to help address cooperation issues in the industry.
The new policy intends to require that REALTORS® place their listing(s) on their board/association MLS® System for cooperation with other REALTORS® within three (3) days of public marketing.
On October 14, 2022, CREA announced the new REALTOR® Cooperation Policy to boards/associations and members. After the feedback received from numerous Members, CREA has made a commitment to refine the interpretations within the policy and create a new version, which will be brought to membership at the 2023 CREA AGM.
To learn more, please take a moment to read this list of questions and answers outlining interpretations, exemptions, and enforcement details.
You can also learn more about the value of MLS® Systems in Canada from this white paper published by Paul Johnson, the former head economist of the Competition Bureau, and Anthony Niblett, a law professor specializing in competition law.
