The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author.

 

Scroll through an industry Facebook group and it won’t take long to find it: personal attacks, vitriol and a growing willingness to go after people rather than issues. Civility is wearing thin, in our industry and well beyond it.

That’s why, earlier this year, the Cornerstone Association of Realtors board of directors approved a resolution pledging our support for the Elect Respect movement.

The initiative began as a conversation between elected officials who shared their experiences of harassment and threats in public and online. Not only is this bullying behaviour alarming for our elected officials, but it can also stifle our democratic process.

While the movement began in the local arena, it has grown to include MPs, MPPs, mayors, councillors, candidates, municipalities and a variety of organizations across Canada.

 

What the pledge asks

 

The pledge is a simple one that individuals or groups can take by agreeing to the following:

• Treat elected officials and each other with respect in all spaces: public, private and online.
• Reject harassment, abuse and personal attacks, and speak out when you witness them.
• Focus debate and political discussions on ideas and policies, not personal attacks.
• Help build a supportive culture where people of all backgrounds feel safe to run for and hold office and engage in public life.
• Call on relevant authorities for the protection of elected officials who face abuse or threats.
• Model integrity and respect in public life, holding ourselves to the highest standards of conduct, and voting for leaders who model integrity and respect in public life and holding them to the highest standards of conduct.

Cornerstone believes these principles are critical to the longevity of any democratic entity, including real estate associations. This is particularly timely as we witness an increase in personal attacks and abuse directed at individuals throughout our industry. Some of it is external, but much is internal. While this is not new, the volume seems to be growing louder, which should be worrisome for all of us.

 

Why does this matter?

 

Too often, false narratives gain traction, and polarization leaves little room for productive dialogue and debate. For some, the volume of a message and the noise that follows matter more than the truth or substance. Keyboard warriors are all too ready to attack with vitriol as moderation and tolerance become less acceptable.

For associations, we need the best people at the table, leading for the benefit of all, not those who support a clique or special interest groups, or those who take “sides.” Our leaders, whether members or independent directors, are volunteers who commit their time, energy and resources to improving the ecosystem for everyone. We need to ensure those elected to lead are protected so they can do the job we’ve entrusted to them.

This is not to suggest members should not be critical. In fact, constructive criticism is a fundamental aspect of “continuous improvement” in any governance model and a key component of democracy. Representatives, directors and elected officials need to hear how they can do better, and there must be clear pathways for receiving criticism. There are times when Cornerstone is critical of other organizations, but when we do so, our focus is explicitly on the issue, never the people.

In my role, I hear from many members who are experiencing the same issues when working with other agents and consumers. These issues are often captured on video and aired publicly, to everyone’s detriment. These examples are a reminder that civility is being tested in every corner of public life.

 

Where do we go from here?

 

While this challenge extends beyond real estate, our profession is well positioned to model the change we seek.

In a recent conversation, a colleague reported spending significant money to develop a three-hour professionalism course that, at the end of the day, boils down to “playing nice.” There are also professional standards and regulatory obligations that apply to every Realtor in Canada, including the Realtor Code of Ethics, specifically Article 19, “discrediting another registrant,” and Article 21, “conduct unbecoming,” as well as local and provincial regulatory controls, up to and including civil and criminal courts.

For Cornerstone, pledging our support to the Elect Respect campaign enshrines our commitment to doing better, a commitment we encourage other associations, brokerages and members to join. 

We can and must do better.