Several readers pointed out the news that the Competition Bureau has launched an aggressive attack on the Canadian Real Estate Association, challenging their monopoly over the MLS and calling for major changes in the way homes are sold.
“Our concern is that [CREA] are improperly and unlawfully leveraging [their control over MLS] in order to impose these restrictions and to deny competitive forces and to deny good old-fashioned market competition,” said Competition Commissioner Melanie Aitken. “This case is focused pure and simple: Let consumers have the choice, let agents have the opportunity to satisfy and serve those choices.”
The Globe and Mail had an online question an answer session with Dale Ripplinger of the CREA and the transcript of that chat is available here.