In my opinion the mls.ca website should be eliminated. The information on this website is gleaned from information that agents secure from people who are clients by virtue of a listing contract. While we are all aware that the contract provides for us to use this information on the site, it shouldn’t. It should be removed from the contract and the information gathered should be used by professional real estate agents who are licenced by their respective provinces to trade in real estate; and further to be disseminated to their buyer clients, who are under a buyer agency contract, or to people who are potential buyers in controlled measures.
Consistent with the Privacy Act effective Jan. 1, 2004 photos and other information of sellers’ homes should not be readily available to the public.
Arguably the most important function of Realtors is not only to provide information to the public, but to ensure the information they receive is in keeping with what they want or need; that the information is accurate and given in a timely and updated fashion. We are further charged with the responsibility of educating the public about their markets and facilitating their sale or purchase, all the while protecting them from the potential pitfalls. It is part of our vocation to ensure everyone (not just those with computers) has equal access to all the product available. It is our job to create great communities.
Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that mls.ca is supported by the real estate industry — it isn’t. There is a tremendous amount of discontent with mls.ca, but, consistent with Canadian virtues, apathy abounds when it comes to voicing an opinion or being pro-active in effecting change.
CREA and MLS exist because the real estate sales representatives and brokers of this country pay dues to support these entities. The membership at large should ultimately decide what direction we want to go in and what initiatives we want to implement and support.
Really… isn’t mls.ca just another form of “unpaid consulting services”?

Brent Dufoe
Associate Broker
Royal LePage Team Realty
Ottawa