The dream of a truly mobile Canadian workforce, where a registered professional in one province can easily work in another, is long overdue.
In an era of global economic instability exemplified by the ongoing U.S. trade war and rising protectionist policies, labour mobility must be part of Canada’s plan to strengthen its internal economy.
But resilience should be built on a foundation of trust, especially in sectors as vital and consumer-facing as real estate.
When it comes to buying or selling a home, the largest financial transaction most Canadians will ever make, consumer protection must not be sacrificed on the altar of as-of-right labour mobility.
Stakes are higher compared to other professions
Across Canada, provincial governments are introducing legislation, like Ontario’s Bill 2, the Protect Ontario Through Canada Free Trade Act, 2025, to permit “as-of-right” recognition of professional registrations or licenses.
On paper, that’s a promising step. Real estate professionals, like their clients, should be able to practice across provincial borders with minimal barriers and red tape.
Except real estate is not like other regulated professions.
If a hair stylist or an accountant from another province makes an error because they lack knowledge of local regulations, the consequences are usually fixable. In real estate, a bad transaction can be financially devastating, upending a family’s future, draining life savings, or leaving someone without a home.
When it comes to dealing with the financial well-being of Canadians, the stakes are too high to treat real estate labour mobility as a rubber-stamp process.
Frameworks built on hyper-localization
Real estate professionals do not operate in one uniform national market, but in deeply local ones shaped by regional cultures, economies, and consumer expectations. The provincial regulatory frameworks governing those markets did not emerge by accident. They were shaped by the unique needs of local consumers across each province.
Ontario’s regulatory system, for example, is designed to balance the complexity of Toronto’s condo market with the very different realities of rural or northern transactions.
While each provincial framework may not always get it right, they have evolved to remain flexible enough to work across a wide range of property types, transaction structures, and market pressures. To ignore that complexity in the name of expedient labour mobility is to misunderstand how real estate functions in this country.
Proceeding with guard rails
Real estate industry leaders should advocate for as-of-right labour mobility with requirements.
Rather than fight against the removal of internal trade barriers, industry associations, regulators and government should collaborate to design reciprocal registration recognition frameworks that allow real estate professionals to get certified quickly, while also ensuring that consumers are protected.
For example, out of province registrants should be required to demonstrate knowledge of provincial real estate laws and regulations. That would mean, for example, implementing jurisdiction-specific knowledge tests, such as the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) interprovincial challenge exam to ensure that agents understand the legal and regulatory frameworks they’re working within.
It also means requiring proof of appropriate insurance coverage in the province of practice.
In Ontario, for example, this would involve mandatory participation in RECO’s professional liability program.
Agents or brokerages should also be required to maintain trust accounts within the province where they are trading to ensure consumer deposits are subject to local oversight and can be audited if necessary.
And finally, in a future where corporate brokerage headquarters could be anywhere in Canada, there must be clear lines of accountability so that consumers know exactly who to contact if they need to resolve a complaint or get support during a transaction.
Big changes set for Canada Day
For real estate association leaders across Canada, this future is coming faster than you may think.
Prime Minister Carney and Canada’s premiers have set a target of July 1st, 2025 for removing all internal trade barriers.
Many provinces have entered memorandums of understandings (MOUs) to negotiate the specific changes and as-of-right labour mobility regulations.
Thankfully, associations like the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) are at the table for these discussions alongside our provincial regulators.
Beyond changes to government policy, association leaders should also prioritize professional development programs that equip agents and brokers with the knowledge needed to operate effectively outside their home province.
Brokerages, particularly those in multiple provinces, must proactively develop compliance systems that meet or exceed the highest regulatory standards across jurisdictions.
At the same time, real estate regulators must collaborate to develop shared disciplinary databases that prevent individuals with problematic histories from simply moving provinces to avoid consequences.
The future is coming fast. Labour mobility is not a matter of if, but when. The real estate industry must lead in designing a system that encourages greater mobility while keeping consumers safe.
Let’s ensure that when we say any license can work anywhere, we also mean that every consumer is protected everywhere.
Matthew Thornton founded Real North Strategies in 2023 after working over 16 years at Queen’s Park and as a public relations executive at Canada’s largest provincial association. He is on a mission to build a better Canada by helping associations, not-for-profits, and organizations solve the biggest public policy challenges of our time by providing world-class advocacy and communication services. From multi-million-dollar campaigns to working with volunteer committees & boards, he has a track record of innovation, creativity, and success when it comes to public affairs, media relations and government relations. Matthew is a proud University of Western alumni, having graduated with an Ivey Business School Executive MBA (’22), Master of Arts (’07) and Bachelor of Arts Honors (’05). He also achieved the CAE designation from the Canadian Society of Association Executives in 2012.
As someone who’s written extensively on governance, REALTOR® identity, and the widening gap between liability and authority in our industry, I wanted to weigh in on this.
Matt, you raise some critical points, but I’d argue that the conversation around labour mobility deserves deeper scrutiny, especially when it comes to who’s at the table and why.
The article suggests, explicitly, that associations should take the lead in preparing agents for this shift. I’d challenge that assumption directly.
Brokerages, not boards or associations, carry the operational responsibility for getting mobility right. They manage compliance systems, maintain trust accounts, absorb liability, and work directly with agents and consumers when things go wrong. They are the ones tasked with translating national policy into daily practice. If they’re not part of the policy design process, we’re building a framework disconnected from its implementers.
Boards often frame their inclusion in intergovernmental talks as proof of sector representation, but being at the table isn’t the same as being equipped to lead. Many associations across the country have struggled to modernize enforcement tools, align MLS systems across regions, or deliver consistent professional standards within their own jurisdictions. Their presence, in this case, may reflect proximity to government more than proximity to risk.
If labour mobility is inevitable (and it is) then we need those responsible for execution to help shape its design. That means brokerages. Not because they’re louder, but because they’re accountable. If we ignore that, we risk further entrenching a system where those furthest from the consequences continue making decisions on behalf of those most accountable for them.
I would say that if we cannot come together on professional standards between regions this sounds like a recipe for disaster. Agents working in cities where they have no experience and knowledge is already a problem. Interprovincial will be next level chaos.
right ? As if there weren’t enough problems already
Do you know who Bill Nasby was? Ask some OG in your office if they remember?
Bill was the first REALTOR in Canada to openly adverise he would sell you a home anywhere in Ontario. He was serious as his custom Cadillac Limosine (brand new) fully decked out in RE/MAX signage was chauffer driven across Ontario even though Bill didn’t have access to any mls system outside TREB, OMDREB and RAHB.
Do you know realtors in Burlington referred Seller and Buyers in Oakville to “local” oakville agent and turned away 75% of the commission they could earn driving a few blocks over? Milton for an Oakville Agent was often too much of stretch in local competency for Mike Morgan and Linsey McClaren made the hall of fame pretty quick even when transaction sides averaged under $6000.
Can you imagine anyone believes a profession where the Median Member will NOT sell 2 homes over the next two years is qualified to sell real estate in province they may have as of yet never visited.
What is wrong with a 25 or 30% referral in 2025? Is the modern realtor so hard up for a commission check they are willing to risk the finances of some innocent consumer who is clueless what it really takes to list or buy a home.
Obviously OREA and TRREB will be fighting this and since CREA already no longer requires your local mls be a member of your provincial association you should assume they want cross Canada licensing so they can be the only membership you need, the public be da–ed.
This is simply ludicrous.
The premise the stakes of an error in professional service are higher in real estate compared to a business accounting error, is not particularly persuasively useful to limit an aggressive move to inter-provincial registration. Arguably of greater or equal risk is the work of tradespeople installing critical building systems such plumbing, electricity, windows, and structural integrity, even with the inspection systems and building code alignment across the country, and that sector has a inter-provincial program of skill mobility. Brokerages exist as the inspector of all things proper for its employees. Like cities who inspect to ensure compliance with building codes, brokerages inspect to ensure compliance with professional conduct of REALTORS®.
And notwithstanding an argument to be made that regulations vary more widely in ORE than in building codes across the country, that should lead to ORE doing something to smooth out those regulations…doubtful the buyer in BC is much different than the buyer in Ontario or NB, and certainly not less different than a buyer in Ottawa is to one in Windsor!
Brandon Reay offers the most sensible view: brokerages are the leading entities with liability in the province of Ontario. If that measure holds true in most other or all provinces, then brokerages input is more necessary than associations. But even more than them, each registrant in each province carries significant lability as well and their input is critical to the exercise of common sense to lessen inter-provincial trade barriers.