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At Wednesday’s annual general meeting, members of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board decisively rejected proposed bylaw changes that would have shifted some decision-making powers, including control over membership dues, from members to the board of directors.

Key changes included condensing the bylaws into plain language, introducing semi-annual dues payments with a surcharge and allowing the board to amend policies and bylaws without member approval. Critics argued the proposed reforms threatened transparency and accountability, especially amid financial pressures and declining membership numbers. Supporters of the motion insisted it was necessary for operational efficiency.

Sources inside the room confirm the motion failed to pass, with the final vote count 393 in favour, 635 against.

Criticism of the process, not intentions

Ken McLachlan, CEO Re/Max Hallmark, said he wasn’t surprised by the outcome, but he was disappointed.

“I believe the board of directors is trying to do what’s right for the members. A lot of the changes they proposed were necessary. But the way they went about it—the presentation, the discussion, the voting process—was poorly executed. If I have any criticism, it’s not of their intentions, but of the process,” he said.

“I think they need to go back and revise the proposal. From my experience on the board, they need to learn from this. If I were advising them, and I’m not, I’d suggest they revisit their purpose, break down their goals into smaller parts, and present them more clearly. And the voting process needs a complete overhaul. The way it was conducted was, in my opinion, terrible.”

Leading up to the vote, some members voiced concerns that the changes threatened accountability and transparency in the 73,000-member organization, which posted a $7.65-million deficit in 2024, according to financial statements. TRREB also reported a 3.3 per cent decline in membership year-over-year.

Last fall, TRREB members rejected a proposed $60 increase in dues for 2025. Fees vary by membership category but are generally around $700.

Statement from TRREB

In a statement to Real Estate Magazine, TRREB CEO John DiMichele acknowledged the outcome, emphasizing that the board “values the decision of Members regarding the proposed By-Law amendments.”

He added that TRREB’s focus has been on listening to member feedback while aligning changes with “legal compliance, good governance, and risk mitigation.”

The statement continues, “Moving forward, TRREB will continue to engage with Members, ensuring their voices guide the path ahead, while maintaining a strong commitment to accountability and the long-term health of the organization.”

Calls for broader participation and better communication

McLachlan elaborated on Wednesday’s voting process. 

“You had to be physically present to vote—it was ridiculous. They allowed proxies, but I believe only about a thousand people voted. We’re all busy, and asking people to go to the convention centre, sit through presentations in a dark room and vote passionately in that setting—it’s not the best way to get a true sense of the membership’s views…”

“…If they had put it to a broader electronic vote, maybe things would have been different. I don’t even know if they’re allowed to do that, but the way it was handled didn’t give everyone a fair chance to participate,” he said.

“Honestly, I don’t think (the defeat of the proposal) says much about the members themselves. What it should tell the leadership is that the way they presented the initiative was ineffective. The goal may have been right, but the delivery failed. They need to return to the drawing board and figure out better ways to communicate with members, to allow for input, and to make it easier for people to vote.”

Divided membership and lingering distrust

Jeff Mount, a TRREB member and Realtor with iPro Realty Ltd., said membership is divided, and there is anger between the two sides. He believes common ground can be found through the engagement of the members.

“I don’t believe it was a revolt against dues increases. It was a statement from members about engagement and being part of the process,” he explained.

“The process has taken us back a few years in the other decisions TRREB has made. In 2023, it was the ORWP…it was basically rammed down the throats of Realtors without engagement. And then the fall of 2024, there was a $60 additional membership increase proposed, and $60 to 70,000 people isn’t the issue. It was that there was a lack of transparency.”

Mount: “We have a spending problem”

“Even though they’ve done a better job today than they’ve done in previous years about finances, I think they still missed an opportunity (for) engagement to communicate to the membership why we need this money. They’re asking for money and we’re all in favour of that. When they spend it the way that they spend it, that’s when membership says ‘woah, wait a minute’.”

Mount quoted Ontario Premier Ford in describing the situation: “We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.

“I don’t think the two sides are as far apart as the vote indicated. I just think that the majority of the members are angry with the process and the lack of engagement, and the appearance of slamming it down our throat without member participation.”

McLachlan: “I support those efforts. It just wasn’t communicated properly.”

Ahead of the AGM, McLachlan says he recorded and shared a video with Hallmark Realtors after they asked for more information on TRREB’s proposed changes.

“Our members reached out to us with concerns about the lack of communication. They didn’t feel informed and were hearing things second-hand. So we felt we had a responsibility to provide clear information to our agents.” 

Had proposed changes been explained “more clearly,” McLachlan feels the vote may have gone differently. 

“Everything costs money to run, and I think they should have explained that more clearly. Some members may have made decisions based purely on emotion around the $50 increase, without a full understanding of what services they’re receiving.

“…As for the bylaw and procedural modernization—that’s absolutely a good thing and an important one. I support those efforts. It just wasn’t communicated properly,” he said, adding he senses that the board was not completely surprised by the outcome.

McLachlan described a feeling of “passion” among attendees, attributing some of it to misinformation and some to poor communication. 

“(The board is) on the right track with wanting to make changes, but they need to approach it differently, possibly by breaking it down into smaller parts. And they need to improve how they communicate with members. We elect them to do a job, and we need to trust them, but trust requires transparency and engagement,” he explained.

Mario Toneguzzi

Mario Toneguzzi is a contributing writer for REM. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He worked for 35 years at the Calgary Herald, covering sports, crime, politics, health, faith, city and breaking news, and business. He now works on his own as a freelance writer for several national publications and consultant in communications and media relations/training. Mario was named in 2021 as one of the Top 10 Business Journalists in the World by PR News – the only Canadian to make the list.