For starters, due to anticipated operational challenges, in order to have time to comply, the boards would like to see the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) delay implementation of the Ontario Realtor Wellness Program (ORWP) beyond the slated Jan. 1 launch date. OREA had previously declined this request; however, the organization recently noted that for some boards, it has extended the deadline for the provision of the collection of certain required personal information around members to Jun. 30, 2024, with access to ORWP being provided in the interim.
Debate over mandatory nature of ORWP
But, the issues go far beyond timing and data collection concerns. Many boards — reportedly significantly more than are in on this particular action — are alarmed that the insurance and benefits package will be mandatory and a condition of OREA membership. They want further discussion. OREA insists that the plan needs to be mandatory, as larger numbers ensure lower premiums. Many realtors — particularly those who already have existing benefit plans and no interest in adding to them — dispute the need to have all 96,000 association members involved.
Voting on such issues is managed by the assembly, comprised of all Ontario boards, with each receiving a fixed number of votes based on size. It’s a bylaw requirement that a special general meeting can’t be called without a high enough (10 per cent) representation of assembly votes. The 10 boards that committed to calling this special meeting will more than do the trick.
According to the boards, OREA asked for a pause in submitting the special meeting request to allow its board of directors to discuss this particular agenda item at the regularly scheduled meeting in mid-September.
OREA yet to respond formally to the boards’ request
At the time of this writing, the boards had not received a formal response from OREA regarding a date for the special general meeting. In a recent statement to Real Estate Magazine, Stacey Evoy, OREA past president and ORWP co-chair, notes, “We have received the requisition, and we’re working on setting up the date and venue for this.”
The ORWP is a “transformative program” that will “have a historic impact on the future of the real estate profession,” Evoy states.
“Any big industry change like this will come with questions,” she adds. “We have held numerous webinars and training sessions to assist member boards with the operational and technical framework of the program, and will continue to keep an open door to answer any questions…This includes our in-person town hall for members to ask any ORWP-related questions on Oct. 11.” (This will be held at the Toronto Congress Centre, reportedly around 1:30 p.m.)
Says David Puddy, president of the Simcoe & District Real Estate Board: “I believe OREA is working hard to remedy operational issues.” He adds that this includes financial support to help boards who need it with the added workload, data collection, etc..
“OREA has worked their butts off to put this thing together. But the general feeling is that they’ve misread the temperature in the room around the mandatory piece. Take that out, and it would be a whole different discussion…We need people working it out together. We don’t want this to be a confrontational thing.”
Logistical challenges
It appears that much of the logistics of putting the ORWP in place and managing it may fall on the various boards, including obtaining member consent and personal information; amending invoicing to include the new fees and collection; managing late and non-payments; terminating members who don’t pay the ORWP fees; reviewing/signing contracts; executing database system changes; and more.
Puddy is among those who think that this will be a challenge, creating additional pressure “on people already close to being overworked.”
The 10 boards and associations requisitioning the special general meeting are:
- Brantford Regional Real Estate Association
- Guelph and District Association of Realtors
- Kingston and Area Real Estate Association
- Mississauga Real Estate Board
- Niagara Association of Realtors
- Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington
- Simcoe & District Real Estate Board
- The Lakelands Association of Realtors
- The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board
- Waterloo Region Association of Realtors
TRREB’s influence
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), by far the largest in the province, is notably absent from this list. With the lion’s share of votes (49 per cent) in the assembly, TRREB is virtually unbeatable — a system many consider unfair. It seems clear that TRREB voted yes to the ORWP (although that doesn’t mean that all of the board’s individual members would agree with that decision).
TRREB President Paul Baron tells REM: “For many years, TRREB members have called for valuable health and wellness coverage, making OREA’s new Realtor Wellness Program an important step forward…The program was approved in June by an overwhelming majority at an OREA special meeting. The program is a safety net for all realtors. TRREB will participate in any special meeting organized by OREA to discuss the ORWP.”
Dissenting boards aim to separate ORWP from OREA membership
The dissenting boards, on the other hand, would like to see the assembly approve a motion to decouple the requirement of the ORWP being mandatory as a condition of OREA membership.
Bill Duce, CEO of the Waterloo Region Association of Realtors (WRAR), notes that while making the insurance optional rather than mandatory would resolve many members’ concerns (“One size never fits all,” he says), it still “does not resolve the issues around directors signing contracts with third-party vendors that they have no oversight on.”
Many people in the industry are rising to be heard in the “fallout of the ORWP decision,” Duce observes. “Many do not believe they are being represented or listened to.”
If, after all is said and done, any board refuses to accept OREA’s terms regarding the ORWP, the options are twofold, Duce explains. “Either comply with the program or be prepared for OREA to terminate the board, along with those realtors who belong to it from OREA.”
Everyone wants to avoid that if possible. “We have nothing but the utmost respect for OREA staff…We remain committed to working with OREA to resolve any differences,” insists Duce. “I expect we will all be able to find a mutually agreeable path forward.”
Susan Doran is a Toronto-based freelance writer who has been contributing to REM since its very first issue.
OREA and TRREB need to be disbanded. They have too much behind the scenes business going on. It’s a little Mafia.
We have no use for OREA and as independent contractors how dare they think that they can force us to pay for health insurance that most of us already have. They are out of control.
They also will hold our MLS use hostage if we don’t participate. WTH is going on !!
When do we elect OREA Members and are any government appointees?
I am 70 years old and have had coverage thru my wife’s retired teacher plan and do to my age cannot qualify for some of the benifits. there should be an age exemption .
I think the age limit should be 70. If you already have insurance then I do not see why you need additional insurance cost. This insurance also terminates when you retire from real estate. The process is what is failing all of the real estate agents support. I am not impressed.
OREA is in place to represent the BEST INTERESTS OF REALTORS… but forcing mandatory non-real estate related health insurance is far outside their mandate. Witholding MLS tool access to any Realtor who does not fall in line with their demands borders on extortion. Pushing a mandatory plan with no dental, no vision, low limits on prescriptions, and reduced coverages for seniors who are still forced to pay full price puts many Realtors at risk of reduced or insufficient coverages. It does not consider at all that many already have superior coverage and do not need or want this. Finally, they have established ridiculous requirements for retirees who might actually want to use their plan; 25 years minimum as a Realtor, and you must be a plan member for 3 years before retiring, so they are actually trying to tell us when we can retire! The entire OREA staff need to be shown the door while this plan is thrown on the scrap heap.
This is totally unfair they are holding are licenses hostage. We are independent contractors and if you are 70 years of age there is no benefit to you only expense. Why should we be forced to pay and give are personal health information.
I totally agree
Get ride of OREA.
Working there butts off my ass.
They have no right to be able to take away mls access.
NONE!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to stop the tail from waging the dog.
Wake up everyone. This is a free country.
OR IS IT!!!
OREA is not the MLS System. The fact that it is mandatory is the issue. OREA states we need 100% participation to get the cost negotiated.
It seems as if MLS is important to REALTORS. OREA, not so much!
This dictatorial attitude of OREA is not acceptable. Programs do not have to be mandatory.another Carrier can be found if necessary to eliminate this conflict.
Thank you for writing this informative piece and finally showing what thousands of agents are feeling! Many feel this has been handled very badly and the brakes need to be put on for further consideration. Remove the Mandatory component.
We, the decenters could all send in a letter of resignation. That is something I intend to do Jan.1 if this is not optional. OREA definetly missed the boat on this issue.
Totally agree
Enjoyed article
Now I see how OREA works. OREA is an extension of the Toronto board. Toronto can virtually do anything they like and they do not want to loose this power. OREA doesn’t actually do anything now that education is with Humber so this new wellness plan gives them something to do. Toronto will vote the wellness in to give OREA longevity and everyone else is paying for it. Nice to have a magic wand.
See the power; if a BOARD refuse to cooperate OREA will shut them down! and if I do not give personal information (even given PIPPA) OREA will take away my livelihood. Amazing.
When and who is organizing the legal challenge. I want to join. jf
Jim Fisher you can join the facebook group called: Ontario Realtors opposing mandatory OREA ORWP , you can find the go fund me and donate there to fight OREA’s madness!!
Why not have the 96,000 members of TTREB have their vote?
It is too logical to get a vote from all the members! It is easier for them to pull over the members eyes and say the vote was o erwhelmongly approved. The anger and com.ents from sooo many members say it all. Whoever approved this scheme has no idea of what they are doing! My vote is to cancel this program and get someone knowledgeable in benefits start from scratch. I have paid premiums to get my coverage and now close to retirement I now have yo contribute to pay for other Realtors who have only cried they don’t have insurance and so I have to contribute to bring down the premiums while close to my retirement my benefits are reduced if I opt into OREAs plan? What absurdity and audacity!!!! I have sent so many emails to OREA President opposing their plan but have NOT received one response to date!!!
Is this a dictatorship? OREA, CREA, RECO, too many chiefs. These groups need to amalgamate. I dont want this insurance. My ex has me on his with the school board. We need to hire a very good lawyer.
Anna Lee please join Ontario Realtors opposing mandatory OREA ORWP facebook group and donate to the legal fund!!! You will find the Gofundme there!
This comment illustrates that you have no idea how organized Real Estate is run in the Province or Country. Maybe it’s time for you to retire or take on new ventures.
OREA has dodged, cutt off, demeaned and belittled every question asked at their roadshows. Their open door statement for questions is a joke. They’re just doing the basics of what they need to do and hoping people won’t see it for what it is, a farce! Keep talking about the tiny amount of persons who are happy with the program, one or two pop on to say they’re happy but that’s it, thousands of dissatisfied realtors, but no one is listening to the majority!
As a member of TREB this mandatory health plan is a scam from an obsolete association that’s trying to remain viable. It’s disgusting that TREB. It’s on members behalves and didn’t notify us that it was even happening. Voters will remember this at election time.
****TREB voted on its members behalf…..
Next up, mandatory covid vaccines for realtors.
My body, my choice.
what about client
In this case, as an independent contractor , it’s My Business, My Choice
I always love it when they say there was a vote and it was overwhelmingly in favour of it!! Funny, who did the voting, 10 people in a smoky backroom? I did not vote for this(Certainly never given the opportunity to, that’s for sure.) nor do I know anyone who has voted for this. We are talking a lot of money here 96,000 x 700 = $67,200,000.00 That’s a huge amount of money per year in premiums!!!
Business big business. Deal maker get 2.5%+has I believe.
This Wellness plan should be optional! I’ve managed quite nicely for 34 yrs in the industry without it, and especially when entering semi retirement, I don’t want the extra expense. My understanding is some of the benefits are not available to those over age 65 either but there’s no reduction in premiums. Grossly unfair. Threatening to cancel my membership if I dont want to participate? Outrageous! Overall the concept is good fro some, but the implementation is terrible. OREA needs to back off on this and listen to a very significant number of their members.
the concept which is mandatory participation in this insurance scam is totally wrong. Let those who want the insurance get it but in no way force anybody else who does not want it to participate. How is this even being discussed. Wow our country is really going downhill when fellow realtors have no concern about forcing this on other realtors who do not need or want it. I could never do that! That is coercion!
TRREB has it wrong.
There is no objection to OREA offering a benefit plan,
JUST DON’T MAKE IT MANFATORY.
TRREB has 49% of the vote? This is a problem only furthered by the fact “representatives” don’t have an obligation to consult their members. No accountability and virtually unilateral decision making.
All I keep hearing from OREA is the vote is done. This is done. The vote is done. The end. How about a grandfather clause for those of us who figured out our health care coverage a long time ago when we were starting our career without any coverage being offered. It’s pretty standard to have a grandfather clause when drastic changes are being made. I don’t agree at all this should be mandatory but if that is what their vote decided then moving forward from Jan. 1, 2024 all new members need to pay. For the rest of us. Add a grandfather clause. Those who want it can have it, those who don’t…there is a clause (come on OREA do some tweaks to this new insurance coverage document…make yourselves useful!). If it costs more as a result…let OREA figure that one out with their provider. I am sure they will still want your business even if it means a little bit of extra work!
Perhaps they should change the name to TOREA.
A combination of TREB and OREA since whatever TREB want OREA does.
It appears to be a dictatorship and now they are threatening us with “Either comply with the program or be prepared for OREA to terminate the board, along with those realtors who belong to it from OREA.”
Are we in Russia?
I have been a member of OREA for 45 years and am 70 years old and no one asked me to vote on this.
Because of my age I don’t qualify for a lot of the benefits that matter so why shouldn’t there be an age exemption?
Considering a change in the OREA management would be a great first step. Time for a change from the top down to the bottom.This has been a very dictatorial setup from the outset. Taking away the voting rights of the membership was the first sign and assigning board votes based on numbers of members? Something wrong there. That led to TREB controlling the narrative , something wrong there. Each and ever member has a right to vote not be controlled like sheep. The process needs a do over or be forgotten as someones misaligned dream.
In my board, we were sent a survey a while ago asking if we were in favour of this or not. The problem is that most people had little or no information about it. For something this drastic, there should have been meetings and presentations for us to participate in. I believe my board voted in favour, but now they are one of the 10 who want it paused. It’s possible I would even take advantage of the program if it was offered optionally, but it can’t be mandatory and tied to your membership.
Thank you for an article written from a logical middle ground! Bill Duce has been the driving logical force through this whole ordeal. As members with no vote, we need leaders like Bill, who aren’t intimidated by the incestuous relationship between TRREB and OREA. With recent rumours of OREA extracting $12.6 million dollars from their finances to create a reserve fund, the picture becomes a little more clear. This, on top of little transparency before the vote on June 20 and TRREB’S desperation to wash its hands of an insurance problem; there should be no question now, as to the true nature of the ORWP.
I couldn’t agree more with your comment. I am proud to be a member of WRAR (Waterloo) with Bill at the helm. Throughout this process he was and still is a leading force.
TRREB now controls a farce of voting for board of directors representing members. Members can now only vote for people TRREB’s nominating committee decides who they will allow to run for the positions. Having a qualification requirement for potential directors should be expected, for example: min number a years in the business & prior participation on committees. However, those volunteering to run for director should not have to pass the confirmation of a small nominating committee made up of the president and other directors whose term is not yet ended.
(Good way to exclude anyone who doesn’t agree 100% with you and keeping them off the board. Easy way to control your agendas. )
Sounds to me like the way that a Dictatorship runs an election!
Very undemocratic rule change that was slipped into rules/bylaws by TRREB in 2022. Amazing what gets passed under guise of minor clarifications of bylaws.
Please read-This is the TRREB email sent to members on Oct 5, 2023 – (only names removed)
Recommended: Seven nominees for TRREB Board of Directors
“The Nominating Committee has sought out and identified, several qualified, highly skilled and experienced REALTORS® to run for a seat on the Board.
Each potential interested candidate was interviewed, and their qualifications were reviewed to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and character needed to fulfill their duties while upholding your best interests.
The seven endorsed nominees are :”
(only removed the names, then continued)
“As you may know, TRREB’s membership passed a By-law to create a Nominating Committee at the 2022 Spring Annual Meeting with the following mandate:
The Nominating Committee shall actively recruit and solicit individual candidates and invite them to submit nominations for candidacy. In recruiting prospective candidates, the Nominating Committee shall consider the Board composition as required by this By-law, as well as ensure the Board of Directors includes individuals with balanced and varied skill sets.”
Wow ! We have lost our ability to actually vote for member representation with the loss of so many local and regional boards where we knew so many agents. We have lost the right to vote responsibly with this TRREB monster.
Check your Bylaws. A member should be able to run in addition to the nominated slate and force an election.
The model TRREB follows for nomination of Directors is the usual model in all for profit, successful large, medium, and small sized publicly traded corporations.
It is sound model applied to unsound governance of ORE.
It is the correct model, just not correct for dysfunctional and illiterate in governance matters ORE.
TRREB Bylaw provides for the right of additional nominations to those put forward by the Board of Directors.
It is not a dictatorship, however the way members are interested in and their focus on day to day business, means there is a greater degree of apathy toward important roles as is nomination for and election of directors.
It is more convenient to cast this process as anti democratic than to seek to change the systemic problem that a NFP organizational structure puts upon what is, arguably, a business venture. I do not know TRREB’s net asset value, and what its non-book net asset value might be, however, I can be sure it has significant cash and physical assets of significant value….and no not for profit organization of a trade association type warrants being treated as a public benefit corporation with the type of resources ORE has.
If what you say is the case, anyone can run, and I have no reason to doubt you, then why isn’t there a program being offered at TRREB educating people on this and encouraging people to come forward. Likely because they don’t want to encourage people to come forward. Yes it is our responsibility to seek and learn, it should also be TRREB obligation to teach and make aware. Instead they do the opposite and keep quiet. I would call that dirty democracy. Not once have I ever heard mention a peep of what you say.
A credit union is doing as you suggest, operating an education program. That is a good activity, welcomed, yet also inadequate to address the basic problem. The primary role of a director is the welfare of the organization, which is in service to members. Yet this is just not the same thing as being accountable or responsible to the members. Sadly, that role does not include educating members as you might wish.
The basic problem is we have an association of associations. Imagine you elect your local politicians, who then appoint or elect the provincial MLA’s and federal MP’s. That is the system we have.
Related to this basic problem is our boards of directors are not skilled based, they are member based. Imagine, for instance, that Air Canada only had pilots on its board of directors.
And also related to the basic problem is there is no measurable means to evaluate the organizations success or failings which results in no ability for director accountability.
Lastly, we are not in a system where you can opt in or out from it, there are no other options for obtaining the services we have built these organizations to deliver. Ergo, OREA has the ability (or maybe it only seems this way, we will soon see) to move outside its mandate, create a requirement upon us for continued access to services regardless of the requirement not having any direct relationship to our service to the public, and force it because we have no options. We have allowed a system to get to this stage.
It is folly to expect leadership to be leadership when it is a sheep in wolves clothing!
Good Work Susan!!
OREA IS NOW A DICTATORSHIP!! AS WELL AS TREBB! It makes me sick every time I hear the lies and misleading information by OREA and TREBB President Paul Baron spew out to their members.
It’s very obvious to thousand and thousand of realtors how things need to change from the top down!
Stay out of our personal business
Proud of Lakelands !! Thank you for supporting your membership!
Finally an article showing a different and more accurate side of this issue . Orea has no right to impose this on so many agents . The numbers are skewed because of TREB and how much they are going to gain from this by charging “administrative fees” . Very disappointed in OREA , NO to Mandatory.
OREA is putting the insurers in a position of tied selling, which is a definite no no under the competition act and I wonder how the named insurers would feel about a social media campaign naming and shamming them for being involved in this misguided foley.
We need OREA to get out of the insurance business and get into the Real Estate business – you know, like protecting the interests of all it’s members. The mandatory part is simply not right – will never be right and I am shocked that more members know nothing about this and will go blindly into this Program. Join the Facebook group Ontario Relators opposing mandatory OREA ORWP. There is a GO Fund Me pinned at the top of the page.
Agree
So OREA and TRREB board members, since we know you are reading these comments …. 32 comments so far and not a single one in support of your ridiculous ORWP plan. If it’s so wonderful, where are the members supporting your position? If this was presented as an OPTIONAL plan and not MANDATORY, things would have been so much different today! Do the only right thing to do here and change this plan to optional for those who truly want or need it!
OREA was asked at a zoom SGM a week ago Monday past to send out a survey and ask all OREA realtors questions about the Mandatory ORWP. For it against, want it. OREA flatly refused. Their stance is a vote was taken June 20 at the SGM of the Member Boards and that’s it. The Member Boards did not have enough information to vote on this plan and should have all abstained. They received a 31 page “CONFIDENTIAL” Document on Friday afternoon, June 16, 4 days before the vote. In this confidential document The question was asked. What if member don’t want it? The Following statements were made: 1) We value Member feedback and we have encouraged Members to share their feedback with their Member Boards. 2) Member Boards should take this feedback into consideration from their Members in advance of the Special Meeting. I would say that Member Boards were not given enough time to get feedback from their Members within 3 days, discounting Friday afternoon when they received this confidential document. This document raised many questions of Member Boards and there wasn’t enough time to get answers from OREA or CBS, the Insurance Management Coordinator for OREA. OREA has now switched over $12 million dollars from their $90 million in reserves and has set up a new reserve fund for ORWP. TRREB has pushed for this and won’t listen to it’s 73,000 membership, saying NO TO Mandatory. OREA told the Sudbury Town Hall meeting they plan to be self insured in 5 years. Never in the history of Ontario Real Estate has there been such a divide and anger in so many arenas.
Ambushing (using a calendar) to push this mandatory Insurance scheme through with the hopes that it flies under the radar is a politician’s device.
We could to tell OREA when to show up for a meeting date that we choose rather than letting them say that they are thinking about when to make the public meeting happen as the January deadline (that they set) looms closer. (We also need to consider that since they have shown bad faith, the board may do something along the same vein & technically, could have the meeting on December 22, 2023 at 3 p.m. or on a date with a lot of closings). They work for us & will be paid to go to the meeting with mileage, accommodations and meal money, I would think. Not sure who is communicating with OREA but I presume our local boards might be responsive to the needs of realtors (who are usually quietly compliant) at this time.
I would be interested to find out how many of these comments are coming from TRREB members. Secondly, the mandatory participation seems to be the big issue here. Why did OREA not get quotes for different levels of participation? I am sure if 80,000 wanted to participate they would still receive a good deal on the premiums. I am sure if 75,000 participated the premiums would still be favorable. I am sure if 50,000 wanted to participate they would still get a good deal and would even pay a bit more for the plan if it is something that member wanted. OREA did not do their due diligence to deliver options to the members. Unless there is someone pulling OREA’s strings behind the scene.
For those who have yet to familiarize themselves with all aspects of the Wellness program, REM has performed a vital service addressing this contentious issue and presenting it from different angles in an objective manner. The issue, plain & simple, is the MANDATORY nature of ORWP. In response to OREA’s argument that it needs to be mandatory to ensure a low premium, I would say: why should I have to subsidize a program (I don’t want) for those in favour of it? (I suspect even those in favour don’t care whether it’s mandatory or not . . . they just want a program, period.) It is a real mystery why OREA insists on forging ahead so inflexibly, determined to force a mandatory program when opposition to it is undeniably significant. One of the members of the task force suggested his motivation was to leave a legacy for future generations of realtors. They are leaving a legacy alright — one of strife and a sense of mistrust in organized real estate — a legacy I would certainly not want to be remembered for.
Everyone keeps asking why OREA insists on pushing forward.
Because Toronto has 49% of the vote when it comes to what OREA does. Perhaps if this program goes away, people will recognize OREA has nothing to do and it may be disbanded. So I think it doesn’t matter to OREA nor Toronto that the program is flawed, just that it becomes reality. And if so then Toronto continues to have its majic wand. Now to me, that is bordering on criminal. jf
A very balanced article Susan. Well done.
Everybody needs to take a deep breath and work on a longer term fix. Two observations: a) there is a big overlap between the list of dissent boards and ITSO’s dwindling membership base, which suggests the real solution to the health plan, data sharing and other problems is to bite the bullet, merge boards and divide Ontario (or at least Southern Ontario) between TRREB and non-TRREB, with OREA’s duties re-assigned to the two mega-boards; b) America’s NAR scandal is causing many US observers to advocate separating MLS access from mandatory realtor association membership. We should think seriously about doing the same here.
Clearly, no one at OREA is listening. This starts at the top and the top should resign.
Definately should not be mandatory. Many people have other coverage(s) so this amounts to yet another “tax” on being a realtor. Even if the benefit for travel/medical to age 80 was a deciding factor, the cost to maintain coverage post-retirement apparently will more than double. And since you can’t decouple the insurance plan from OREA even if you still wanted to be in the plan but in a semi-retired state with a parked license, you can’t even do that. This program seriously needs more thought and some major adjustments.
Get rid of OREA and all the boards should form a new association with the collaboration of all Ontario real estate boards. Politicians should never run a real estate organization!
We are not employees! We pay OREA to exist not the other way around!
Thank you Susan. You said exactly what I was thinking and ready to right.
Since when does the employee get to say what I do with my business?!
What if the other boards do create their own MLS system and remove all our listings from TREB? And also no longer support OREA with any dues.
Likely massive layoffs since they will no longer require the same number of employees, and likely force the dictators out.
They are just sitting back, laughing knowing that they have us in the palm of their hands. And will continue doing as they wish. What will be next?
So….are we just all talking, or doing something about this?
We need our other boards to step it up, take votes and show force that this must be optional.
And, I agree. Those members 65 and older, if paying the same, should continue to get the same benefits as every other member.
I’m a suspicious sort and I’m hoping there isn’t anyone making big bucks by forcing this program on the membership. Gerard Windle
Realtors love numbers. Me too.
96,000 Realtors X $700 / yr = $67,200,000
That would be every year until the realtor dies with a growing population and new realtors all the time
Big contract. What incentives would you give as an insurance agent to get that payday? Trips, conventions, wine, dine, club memberships, mortgage terms, investment terms, free premiums?
As Stacey R. well put it.
“Get rid of OREA and all the boards should form a new association with the collaboration of all Ontario real estate boards. Politicians should never run a real estate organization!
We are not employees! We pay OREA to exist not the other way around!”
Since when does the employee get to say what I do with my business?!
Agree! Other boards do need to create their own MLS system and remove all our listings from TREB. And, also no longer support OREA with any dues.
Likely massive layoffs at both since they will no longer require the same number of employees, and this would likely force the dictators out.
They are just sitting back, laughing knowing that they have us in the palm of their hands, and will continue doing as they wish. What will be next?
So….are we just all talking, or doing something about this?
We need our other boards to step it up, take votes and show force that this must be optional.
I agree that those members 65 and older, if paying the same, should continue to get the same benefits as every other member.
When is the massive protest planed at OREA?
How can it be legal. We are NOT EMPLOYEES of Orea , how can they make this mandatory and how can they remove services that they don’t even supply.
Also i am 73 and they want to collect full premiums and only give me Some of the benefits. I also thought it is illegal to charge for a service that you Do Not provide, or even intend to provide. That’s fraud and a scam.
I hope there is a huge lawsuit and this useless, redundant Association disappears for trying to force compliance on independent contractors.
I strenuously object and Paul Baron, treb president will go down for this one.
Are any of these board members government appointees?
In addition to my day job, I am also a CPA. As a professional body, CPA Ontario offers wellness insurance to it’s members. However, it is NOT mandatory. I may be wrong, but I am unaware of other professional bodies that make wellness insurance mandatory on their membership. (E&O insurance is another matter, but understandable).
Thank you, you’ve got me thinking. I formerly worked for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (which is like CPA association and CREA) with members that pay dues. I must fine out if they offer insurance to its members and if it is mandatory.
It’s not a question of age, gender, sex, background….no exemptions needed, those who do not want this program should not be forced into it. No to mandatory. Simple.
I already have full health insurance and these Orea programs do nothing for me but take more money out of my pocket with zero benefits. They can not take away my license which is my livelihood if I do not comply to their outrageous demands. It’s sickening. It’s unethical and immoral. This is highly illegal. Orea is an association not an insurance business.
Good Point. OREA does work for us but has morphed into a band of persons who have been there too long. It is considered irregular for someone to be on any board for longer than 6 years no matter if they change positions on that board (from board member to president, to vice chair etc). We need that rule to be incorporated into OREA’s governing agreement with us as a by-law. for one. We need to negotiate a better deal with the OREA persons that we elect including clear limitations.
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