Municipal politicians are once again asking for municipal land transfer tax (MLTT) powers.
Specifically, last week, York Region councilors formally demanded that Queen's Park give them the power to levy a MLTT. A second land transfer tax in York Region would add over $15,000 to an average priced home.

Background

Currently, the City of Toronto is the only municipality allowed by the Province to levy a municipal land transfer tax.  Other municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario have repeatedly asked and lobbied the provincial government for the authority to also have this taxing power.  REALTORS® have been vocal against this and have successfully fought back against these attempts each time.

Take Action Now

TREB has partnered with OREA to speak out against the York Region request (click here to read recent news release), but YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED AGAIN.

There is a real risk that a new government at Queen's Park could look favourably on York Region's request.  With a provincial election less than a week away, we need REALTORS® to send a message to local candidates running in the Ontario Election telling them to say 'no' to a second land transfer tax.  It is quick and easy to send an email to your local candidates by clicking here.

Thank-you for your support!

For your convenience, beginning today, June 4, 2018, TREB will be transitioning to providing DIS (Data Integrity Service) Notices by email. These emails will be sent to Brokers of Records and Office Managers (where applicable) as well as the affected Salespeople.

During the transition, some Brokerages (e.g., Broker of Record, Manager and affected Salespeople) will continue to receive notices by fax, while others will receive notices by email. The number of notices sent via email will increase over the course of the transition until all Members receive DIS notices by email only.

We recommend Brokers of Record and Managers communicate this change in delivery method to their Salespeople and office Staff. Further communications will be sent to Members as a reminder throughout June.

By July 3, 2018 we anticipate that all Brokerages will be receiving DIS Notices by email.

This transition was requested by Members and approved by TREB's Board of Directors. Receiving notices via email will increase efficiency for Members and also provide a more modern way to receive DIS Notices.

Below is an example screenshot of how a new DIS Notice will look in your inbox:

Please ensure you and your Salespeople are regularly monitoring the single (primary) email addresses you've provided to TREB as required by the Authorized User Agreement. Failure to act on DIS Notices sent to single email addresses will result in this matter being referred to the Professional Standards Roster for further action.

Single email addresses can be checked and modified in Manage My Profile found on the left sidebar of the Search Properties page (see below) or, via TREB's Spotlight On Over 100 Services page.

For assistance, contact the TREB Help Desk at 416-443-8111.

In Part 1 of 2 of our Spotlight On: MLS®, Collaborate & Related Services, we'll highlight Collaborate and Public Records.

Check your inbox over the next two weeks for Part 2, which will focus on the Buyer Registry Service and other new services.

COLLABORATE

Have you joined the thousands of TREB Members who use Collaborate to interact with their clients and for you to search on Stratus in real time on any device? If not, you should view the ad below to discover some of the key benefits of this innovative, new tool for you and your clients.

Plus, if you'd like to learn more about Collaborate, you can watch a series of informational videos in the Video Centre under "Collaborate."

PUBLIC RECORDS

DID YOU KNOW? While viewing TREB MLS® Listings on Stratus, you can seamlessly access property information from MPAC propertyline™ and land registry data from GeoWarehouse®, all from one-central location by clicking the Public Records link.

Public Records, which is accessible on any device from the Stratus home page or right from an individual listing, can be used to view:

• Assessed value, structural data, and municipal addresses of properties
• Last sale date and amount as well as legal description
• Ontario parcel data
• Neighbourhood demographics
• MLS® Sales history

Public Records also allows Members to conduct comparable property searches and grants limited access to ownership and sales history information from GeoWarehouse®.

For a video walkthrough of how to use Public Records, search for "Public Records - Residential" in the Video Centre on Stratus.

OTHER SERVICES AND INFORMATION

• Virtual Office Websites
• Service Interruptions
• Connect
• Interboarding
• & More

Don't forget to visit the Interactive Member Tools & Services Map on Stratus for all 100+ tools and services, any time and on any device. 

TREB is pleased to inform you that your annual TREB membership dues and fees invoice for the membership year July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 reflects a $25.00 one-time dues holiday reduction for qualifying active Members as of June 30, 2018. TREB is also pleased to announce that your TREB Member Life & AD&D insurance premium has been reduced by $10.00, and the coverage remains the same at $30,000 Life and $100,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment.

Your 2018/2019 TREB annual membership dues e-Invoice notice was sent directly to your email on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

A link is provided for you to view and pay your invoice online. Click on the link and you will be directed to TREB's safe and secure e-Commerce website. You will need your TREB Membership Number, PIN, and Authenticator Password to sign on.

We recommend that you add trebinvoice@trebnet.com and webmaster@trebnet.com to your safe sender's list or email contact list to prevent it from being blocked as spam.

The payment due date is Saturday, June 30, 2018.

Please note the following:

1. Payment of annual dues by June 30 will confirm a Member's intention to renew his/her membership with TREB.
    

• If payment is not received by June 30, then a Member's membership is deemed not to have been renewed and membership privileges will cease immediately, without further notice. Accordingly, unless reinstating within 12 months, you will not be responsible for the annual dues charges for the coming year.
  
  

 The following payment methods are available:

• e-Commerce:
  Invoices may be paid online through Stratus.

• Cheque:
  Payable to the Toronto Real Estate Board
  Cheque must be received at TREB's offices by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 29, 2018.
  (Please include membership number on cheque.)

• INTERAC Online:
  In order to make INTERAC Online payments, you must have Internet banking enabled with your financial institution. Currently, four Canadian financial institutions – TD Canada Trust, RBC, Scotiabank, and BMO – accept payments as part of the INTERAC Online program.

Please remember that payment must be received by TREB by Saturday, June 30, 2018 to avoid any service interruptions.

A Member has reported the theft of her wallet at an open house in the Mulock and Bathurst area.

It appears that the visitor parked down the street and walked up, possibly to avoid having the licence plate in view. The open house was in its final few minutes, and the Member was busy with closing it down. Once the person left, she noticed that her wallet was missing from her purse that she had put out of sight in a closet. The Member notes that the visitor was in his late 20s and was driving an older model, grey Mercedes.

Members are reminded to consider keeping a guest registry at all open houses, requesting visitors' identification as part of this process, and to accompany buyers throughout showings where possible. In addition to safeguarding their own possessions, it is suggested that Members also advise their clients to remove valuables from the home, including jewellery and electronics, prior to any showing rather than attempting to hide them.

On Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31, over 8,000 real estate and industry professionals converged upon the Toronto Congress Centre for TREB's 18th annual REALTOR® QUEST, Canada's largest real estate trade show and conference. Attendance was up by over 4% when compared to 2017!

With REALTORS® in attendance from across Canada and the US, the successful event had something for everyone, including exciting featured keynote presentations, our new TREB Trends series, plus Learning Quest professional development sessions, a newly-expanded trade show, and several other attractions.

SPRING ANNUAL MEETING

REALTOR® QUEST kicked off with TREB's Spring Annual Meeting on the morning of May 30. The meeting drew over 1,200 TREB Members to a full house, who came out to receive updates on important Association matters from TREB President Tim Syrianos and CEO John DiMichele, as well as catch a featured keynote presentation on the economy from CIBC Deputy Chief Economist Benjamin Tal.

Members were asked to vote on proposed changes to TREB's By-Law, as well as to vote on TREB's annual charitable contribution of $12 per Member to the Ontario REALTORS Care® Foundation's Every REALTOR® Campaign.

Representatives from other real estate and industry associations, including CREA, OREA and RECO, were also on hand to share their updates.

Additionally, several awards were presented to some outstanding TREB Members.

The meeting's attendees were also among the first to hear the winners of TREB's 2018/2019 Board of Directors Elections, including 2018/2019 TREB President-Elect, Michael Collins. To read a complete list of your newly-appointed Board Members, please click here.

FEATURED KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS 
From tech and real estate experts, to futurists, and a world-renowned motivational speaker, REALTOR® QUEST 2018 boasted an exciting lineup of featured keynote speakers.

One of this year's highlights included a standing room only featured keynote presentation from Mel Robbins, bestselling author of The 5 Second Rule. Speaking to a packed audience, Robbins delivered an inspiring talk on how to "Achieve Breakthrough Performance in Your Career & Life," which offered no shortage of actionable advice, life-changing tips, and case studies to learn from.

Attendees were also treated to featured keynote presentations from renowned economist and Member favourite, Benjamin Tal, who spoke on the GTA housing market and global economic trends at the Spring Annual Meeting; Rob Hahn, real estate influencer and creator of "The Notorious R.O.B." blog, who shared insights on how Realtors can protect themselves from an uncertain future; as well as trusted tech evangelist Marc Saltzman on the future of the smart home.

TREB TRENDS SERIES                                          
New to REALTOR® QUEST for 2018 was our TREB Trends speaker series. It featured immersive presentations on this year's conference theme of the hottest trending topics in real estate, covering ground on the following themes: real estate teams, politics, sales, technology, entrepreneurship, and personal finance.

Kicking off TREB Trends on May 30 was Kijiji founder Janet Bannister, whose session chronicled her journey as an entrepreneur and founder of one of Canada's most visited websites.

Some of the amazing speakers who spoke as part of this new series on May 31 included Bruce Sellery, bestselling personal finance author and TV personality; Kathleen Black, elite sales coach of real estate teams; TREB CEO John DiMichele and real estate influencer Rob Hahn, who discussed the changing landscape of the real estate industry; and a highly-topical session on cyber security from Chris Mathers.

Plus, several attendees tuned in for TREB Trends' two panel sessions: "Professionalism & Compliance in Today's Industry," and "Provincial Election Candidates Debate Housing Issues," in which representatives from each major party debated issues of particular relevance to Realtors in the upcoming Ontario election.

LEARNING QUEST  
Attendees at this year's REALTOR® QUEST had access to some of the best professional development in the industry, with over two dozen Learning Quest sessions to choose from.
From sessions on the commercial and residential real estate markets, new TREB services, sales coaching, online lead generation, and more, there was a learning experience targeted to every Member need.

Plus, this year's Learning Quest lineup included the following two sold-out designation courses:

• Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) taught by TREB's former Chief Development Officer, Hugh Foy, on how to elevate professional standards and personal performance; and
• Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) taught by Mary Jones, on how to advise clients aged 50+ through major financial and lifestyle transitions.

Some of this year's insightful Learning Quest speakers and sessions included sales coach Bruce Keith, who shared his strategies on how to boost your business and handle the ups and downs of the marketplace; Tammy Evans, who spoke on the state of the condo market in 2018; Member favourite Mark Weisleder, senior partner with Real Estate Lawyers.ca, on how to read a title search; and a session on "The Top Mistakes REALTORS® Make and How to Avoid Them!" from former adult educator, journalist and television host, Sue Styles.

CENTRE STAGE AND PRIZES
There was no shortage of entertainment, prize giveaways, and networking opportunities at Centre Stage.Day One featured a Network & Win! session, which included giveaways of two Amazon Echos. On Day 2, television personality and tech expert Winston Sih hosted a My Favourite Apps!session, and finalists of TREB YPN's karaoke competition sang their hearts out for the title of TREB Superstar. Congratulations go out to our first TREB Superstar, Lloyd Taylor, Sales Representative, Royal LePage RCR Realty.

Plus, for the first time this year, both days concluded with a Member Networking Reception. Featuring the sounds of The Personics, the reception gave attendees a chance to unwind, dance, and connect with colleagues.

Before each day of the conference came to an end, winners of our daily prize draw were invited to Centre Stage. Congratulations go out to Andrew Teodosia, Sutton West Realty, 
and Mary Kapches, Bosley Real Estate Ltd, the winners of a free 2018/2019 TREB Membership. 
TRADE SHOW, HEALTH QUEST & TREB PAVILION
This year saw an increase in trade show exhibitors, with over 260 industry exhibitors setting up shop on the newly expanded, 130,000 square foot trade show floor.

Other trade show attractions included Health Quest, which gave attendees a chance to unwind in a relaxed atmosphere while taking advantage of a variety of complimentary wellness services, as well as the revamped TREB Pavilion, where Members could learn more about existing and upcoming TREB services.

To view a photo Facebook photo gallery of the event's festivities, please click here.
REALTOR® QUEST 2018 was an event to remember, and TREB would like to thank all who attended.

SAVE THE DATE: REALTOR® QUEST 2019 
We hope to see many of you at next year's trade show and conference on May 29 & 30, 2019! Watch below for highlights of what's in store!

COMING SOON: HELP IMPROVE YOUR TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

At the June 6, 2018 meeting of the Toronto & East York Community Council (TEYCC), the report "Changing Lanes: The City of Toronto's Review of Laneway Suites" was considered. The report intends to introduce a new form of rental accommodation and new opportunities for multigenerational living in Toronto's neighbourhoods by increasing the long-term affordable
rental stock. It addresses various issues related to zoning by-law and official plan amendments, as well as providing a set of guidelines for consideration.

TREB strongly believes that the supply of affordable housing and long-term rental stock in Toronto must be a priority for City Council and that all options should be considered, including laneway housing. To that end, a TREB submission was sent to TEYCC in support of the report. To see the full letter, please click here.

TREB applauds TEYCC's motion to pass this report unanimously, but it still needs Council approval before the way is cleared for permitting, regulating and setting guidelines for laneway suites. We look forward to working with City Council and City Staff to provide input on potential zoning by-law and other policy changes to facilitate the development of auxiliary housing units (laneway, coach, corner lot).

We will continue to update our Members on this subject as further details become available.

Following a recent property reassessment, many businesses in Toronto reported unsustainable property tax increases. As a result, on January 31, 2018, City Council adopted measures to provide a level of protection against these property tax increases. In 2018, properties in the commercial, industrial and multi-residential tax classes will see property tax increases limited (capped) to 10 per cent of the preceding year's annualized taxes, plus a portion of the Council's approved budgetary rate increase.

Council has asked City staff to explore additional tax policy options for businesses impacted by property tax increases and to report back on a policy direction to explore in 2019 and beyond. City staff held public consultations.  

Given that many TREB Members work with business clients operating from commercial and industrial properties in Toronto, TREB submitted a letter to the City providing initial input, and requesting the opportunity to be involved in the process of developing any new policies on this issue. 

TREB believes that a competitive property tax environment is critical for the City's economy and that making the City's business property tax rates more competitive should be a priority for City Council. With that said, TREB believes that some important questions must be answered prior to implementing any new policies:

• What would be the impact of new City business tax policies on residential property owners?
• What would be the impact of new City business tax policies on small business owners vs. large businesses?

We will continue to update you on this issue as work on these policies progresses. 

Your 2018/2019 TREB Annual membership dues e-Invoice notice was sent directly to your email on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

PAY HERE BY THE SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2018 DEADLINE

A link is provided for you to view and pay your invoice online. Click on the link and you will be directed to TREB's safe and secure e-Commerce website. You will need your TREB Membership Number, PIN, and Authenticator Password to sign on.

THE PAYMENT DUE DATE IS SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2018.

DUES HOLIDAY & INSURANCE REDUCTION

TREB is pleased to inform you that your annual TREB membership dues and fees invoice for the membership year July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 reflects a $25.00 one-time dues holiday reduction for qualifying active Members as of June 30, 2018. TREB is also pleased to announce that your TREB Member Life & AD&D insurance premium has been reduced by $10.00, and the coverage remains the same at $30,000 Life and $100,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment.

As you are aware, the old Clareity Token and the MobilePASS app are presently on the verge of being completely phased out. It is important to note that by June 30, all Members of TREB and Partner Boards will need to have the new Clareity Authenticator App on their smartphones in order to maintain continued access to Stratus.  

The Authenticator App can be installed only on phones that are running either an iOS or Android operating system; therefore, it will be necessary for some Members to update their phones. Members that possess BlackBerry phones not running Android operating system, for example, need to upgrade to ones running Android, and Members that are using either flip phones or do not have one at all, will need to obtain smartphones running an iOS or Android operating system. 

You can choose to engage in the migration process by clicking the Migrate Now button that you should eventually see when you log in to Stratus, or by simply downloading the app which you can do by clicking one of the links provided below, or by going to either Google Play or the App Store and downloading the app from there (search for 'Clareity').  

iOS App:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mobileauth/id1182954733?ls=1&mt=8

Android App:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.clareity.mobileauth&hl=en

We strongly recommend that you do this sooner rather than later, because the old tokens and MobilePASS will stop working on the first business day of July, which is July 3,since the deadline date of June 30 falls on the weekend. 

For authenticator migration and enrollment instructions, click here.

You can call the TREB Help Desk at 416-443-8111 if you require assistance in getting the app set up on your phone.

Did you know that thousands of your fellow TREB Members, and their clients, use Collaborate to interact with each other and search TREB MLS® Listings for sale and for lease on Stratus on any device and in real time?

If you haven't accessed Collaborate yet, you can do so from your desktop, smartphone or tablet, here.

Collaborate is available to all TREB Members. Below, are some of the key benefits of this innovative, online tool for you and your clients:

• Once you set them up on Collaborate, your clients can set up their own searchesto view active listings in real time and with your oversight;

• You can track client activity to better understand their preferences and how they may be changing;

• Ensures you and your clients are among the first to see when homes matching specific criteria hit the market with real-time listing notifications and email updates;

• While clients can only view active listings, Members can use Collaborate's mobile-friendly interface to search active and unavailable listings on the go, on any device. Plus, Collaborate is accessible from your browser at collab.torontomls.netand doesn't require an app installation;

• You and your clients can like and share individual listings, as well as publish private comments, for each other to view directly on Collaborate;

• With the Collaborate news feed, you can track client activity as well as listing updates, all in one place;

• Leverage Collaborate to work on teams as a way to communicate with other REALTORS® in your office or administrators, and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth emails or calls with colleagues;

• Use the intuitive map view to see listing locations and draw custom search boundaries to ensure your clients receive updates for listings in their most-preferred areas;

• Collaborate and TREB's public listings website (TREBhome.com) share similar interfaces, making for a seamless transition for your clients when they begin to work with a REALTOR® in their property search.

Bookmark Collaborate on your desktop and mobile browsers now.

If you'd like to learn more about Collaborate, you can watch a series of informational videos in the Video Centre under "Collaborate."

You'll want to read the June issue of TREB's monthly Across the Boardnewsletter from cover to cover, so you don't miss any of the exciting content, including:

• Annual Membership dues payment deadline is June 30, 2018. Don't miss it!
• Learn more about the transition of DIS Notices to email.
• The deadline to switch to the Clareity Authenticator App is fast approaching. Learn how to make the switch!
• The latest Stratus enhancements, including new free eForms and eSignatures platforms with Instanet® and Authentisign®.
• All the highlights of REALTOR® QUEST 2018.
• The accomplishments of your 2017/2018 Board of Directors and Committee and Task Force volunteers.
• How to ensure you're listing the correct condo.
• & more.

Click here or on the image below to read this month's issue. You can also download a print-friendly PDF here.

Can't Access Across The Board?

If you're having trouble accessing the links above, you can also access Across The Boardthrough the Tools & Services Map clickable from the top-most menu on the Stratus home page.

Looking for a Previous Issue?

To read a previous issue, visit the Across The Board archives here, or access the archives from the Your Resource Centre page.

If you have questions about Across The Board, please send them to acrosstheboard@trebnet.com.

Please read the below bulletin for an important update on DNCL Enforcement from CREA.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) continues to enforce compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules or the National Do Not Call List (DNCL). The DNCL includes consumer telephone numbers who have chosen to no longer receive marketing calls. The DNCL was established in September 2008 and CREA has communicated requirements to its' members on numerous occasions. There have been several messages to Boards and Associations, News2Me articles, multiple blog posts and a full compliance guide is available on REALTORLink® to help members understand their obligations. It is important for brokerages to understand their responsibilities and ensure full compliance. Failure to do so may result in significant financial penalties administered by the CRTC. We encourage you to review the steps below and update your internal policies accordingly.

• If a brokerage makes calls or sends faxes to consumers for the purpose of solicitation, the brokerage must register at http://go.pardot.com/e/94862/ind-insorg-regorg-eng/2x3rk6/201760363.
• If a brokerage signs a contract with a telemarketing service provider to do telemarketing on their behalf, the brokerage must still register at http://go.pardot.com/e/94862/ind-insorg-regorg-eng/2x3rk6/201760363.
• If a brokerage or their service provider conducts telemarketing, the brokerage must purchase a subscription for the area codes that will be called.
• It is the responsibility of the brokerage to ensure its office has access to the most up-to-date version of the National DNCL and that those numbers are removedfrom the calling list.

The DNCL applies to brokerages as well as service providers. We urge brokerages to exercise caution when hiring a third party service provider to assist in managing their telemarketing operations. Hiring a third party to manage a brokerage's telemarketing operations does not absolve the brokerage of its DNCL responsibilities. Each brokerage is responsible for calls made on their behalf, therefore, if the service provider does not abide by the law, the brokerage may be at risk, particularly if the CRTC launches an investigation. For more information about the DNCL and members' obligations, please consult CREA's FAQs or contact us at info@crea.ca.

This week's Spotlight e-blast is Part 2 of 2 in a series focused on MLS®, Collaborate & Related Services.

Below, we've highlighted recent Stratus enhancements, including a new way to access eForms and eSignatures with unlimited, free Instanet® & Authentisign® access, as well as the Buyer Registry Service®.

INSTANET® & AUTHENTISIGN®

Industry-leading electronic forms and electronic signatures platforms, Instanet® & Authentisign®, are now available free of charge for all Stratus users.

You can take advantage of these platforms to create unlimited Transactions and Electronic Signatures from the right side bar menu on the Stratus home page or from the "Links" section of the left side bar menu on the Search Properties home page. Plus, you can access these platforms right from an individual listing to enable automatic population of some form fields. You can also access these services from the Tools & Services map or the Spotlight index.

For a complete resource on how to use Instanet® & Authentisign®, click here.

BUYER REGISTRY SERVICE®

Designed to make the "Buyer Side" of transactions more transparent and professional, the Buyer Registry Service® (BRS®) is a database of buyers who are under a Buyer Representation Agreement (BRA).

As a Salesperson or Broker, you should use the BRS® to:

• Identify and take measures to deal with prospecting clients who might already be under a BRA;
• Clarify your professional relationships with your buyers to other Salespeople; and
• Take advantage of added functionality, such as frequently updated Property Match searches, Buyer Name Search, and a Reverse Search Tool, which can be used by Listing Salespeople to approach Co-operating Salespeople with potential properties of interest.

For a video walkthrough of how to use this database and its benefits, search for "The Buyer Registry Service®" in the Video Centre on Stratus.

STRATUS ENHANCEMENTS

We've introduced several new enhancements to Stratus, including;

• An enhanced "Info Centre" page layout with embedded Quick Search, Stratus Headlines, and more
• Easier access to open house information, with the addition of a "Manage My Profile" link on the Add/Edit screen
• A new, modern look for Prospect Match emails
• An increase in the inactivity timeout on Stratus to 60 minutes from 30 minutes
• And more

Other MLS®, Collaborate & Related Services and Information:

• Schools
• Technology Corner
• WEBForms®
• & More

Visit the campaign archive for the previous Spotlight On: MLS®, Collaborate & Related Services - Part 1 as well as a full overview of the over 100 services available to TREB Members.

Don't forget to visit the Interactive Member Tools & Services Map on Stratus for all 100+ tools and services, any time and on any device. 

A Member has reported that a client's property for sale in Barrie was listed for lease on kijiji. She was alerted to the listing by a friend who also noted that the lease price seemed unusually low.

In order to guard against such fraudulent activity, Members may choose to undertake routine Internet searches of their listings. Once alerted to such occurrences, Internet fraud can be reported to local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, which is jointly managed by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Competition Bureau. For more information, visit www.antifraudcentre.ca

Alert your clients looking to lease a property to the fact that not all of the ads are legitimate. They should also be cautious about below-average rental amounts, the request for a deposit or first and last month's rent via wire transfer, or no in-person visits to/inside the property, as these could be indicators of fraudulent activity. They should also be cautious about opening attachments in any emails they receive.

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Do you want to give back to your local community? Are you concerned about government regulation on housing and the real estate industry, transit infrastructure and improving quality of life in general? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you might consider running for public office in the upcoming municipal elections as a mayor, councillor or school board trustee. Municipal elections will take place across Ontario on October 22. TREB encourages its Members interested in running for public office to do so.

TREB Support for Member Candidates

TREB has a policy to support Members running for elected office by publicizing their candidacy to fellow Members.

If you are running as a candidate in the municipal elections and would like your candidacy publicized by TREB, please email TREB's Government Relations Specialist at aoprea@trebnet.com.

Due to municipal campaign finance rule changes by the provincial government, corporations, including TREB, are no longer allowed to make financial donations to municipal or school board election candidates.

Important dates to remember:

• Deadline to file nomination papers: Friday, July 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
• Date of municipal elections: Monday, October 22, 2018

Who can run as a candidate?

• A candidate must be a resident of the municipality or a non-resident owner or tenant of land in the municipality or the spouse of such non-resident owner or tenant;
• A Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old;
• Not legally prohibited from voting; and not disqualified by any legislation from holding municipal office.

You will need 25 signatures on your endorsement nomination form if you are running for municipal council and your municipality has more than 4000 electors, and must pay a fee of $100 ($200 for mayor).

For further details on what you need to know as a candidate, please refer to this guide prepared by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs:
2018 Candidates' guide for Ontario municipal council and school board elections

Consider running for municipal elections, and make a difference in your community!

As we recently informed our Members, at the June 6, 2018 meeting of the Toronto & East York Community Council (TEYCC), the report "Changing Lanes: The City of Toronto's Review of Laneway Suites" was adopted unanimously.

TREB applauds TEYCC's decision, but the report still needs Council approval before the way is cleared for permitting, regulating and setting guidelines for laneway suites. TREB strongly believes that the supply of affordable housing and long-term rental stock in Toronto must be a priority for City Council and that all options should be considered, including laneway housing. As such, TREB has submitted a letter to City Council urging them (as we advised TEYCC), to pass this report at their next meeting on June 26, 2018. To see the full letter, please click here. 

The report intends to introduce a new form of rental accommodation and new opportunities for multigenerational living in Toronto's neighbourhoods by increasing the long-term affordable rental stock. It addresses various issues related to zoning by-law and official plan amendments, as well as providing a set of guidelines for consideration.

TREB looks forward to working with City Council and City Staff to provide input on potential zoning by-law and other policy changes to facilitate the development of auxiliary housing units (laneway, coach, corner lot).

Please stay tuned for further details.  

TREB would like to congratulate two current Realtors and TREB Members who were elected on June 7 to Queen's Park.

Stan Cho (with Royal LePage New Concept) won the riding of Willowdale, and Amarjot Sandhu (with Royal LePage Flower City Realty) won in the riding of Brampton West.

We look forward to working together with both of you to ensure GTA residents continue to realize the dream of home ownership, as we are confident you will be strong champions on housing issues.

Congratulations!