Eastern Ontario Board Amalgamation Will Not Proceed at This Time
March 24, 2025
The Boards of Directors of the associations that approved the amalgamation thank all Members who participated in the vote. While the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) and the Renfrew County Real Estate Board (RCREB) voted in favour, the Members of the Kingston and Area Association of REALTORS® (KAREA) did not approve the resolution. The proposed formation of the Eastern Gateway Association of REALTORS® will not move forward at this time.
Following the Kingston vote, the motion to amalgamate was subsequently withdrawn by the Cornwall and District Real Estate Board (CDREB) and the Rideau-St. Lawrence Real Estate Board (RSLREB) before the meetings took place. However, a non-binding vote in RSLREB, along with the positive results in Ottawa and Renfrew County, clearly demonstrates that there is interest in a regionalized approach.
The Task Force met late Friday night and, while disappointed in the outcome, agreed that it is clear the majority of Members want to continue the conversation about Eastern Ontario amalgamation.
Although this is not the outcome that was anticipated, association leaders remain optimistic about future collaboration. Erin Finn, past-president of KAREA and Task Force Member, reflected on the discussions that have taken place throughout this process. “Our Members have demonstrated a strong commitment to shaping the future of organized real estate. While we won’t be moving forward with this specific plan, we look forward to finding new ways to collaborate in the near future.”
While this result is disappointing, the discussions sparked by this process have been valuable. Curtis Fillier, past-president of OREB and Task Force Member, acknowledged that collaboration remains a priority. “We’ve seen great engagement from our Members, and while this specific plan will not proceed, we remain committed to finding ways to work together for the benefit of all.”
The need for a strong, unified approach to supporting REALTORS® in the region remains. Amanda McParland, past-president of RCREB and Task Force Member, emphasized that “Our industry is evolving, and the conversations we’ve had throughout this process have reinforced the importance of aligning our resources. While this particular proposal is not moving forward, we are committed to exploring other opportunities for collaboration.”
While this proposal will not proceed, the Boards of Directors remain committed to enhancing services, supporting Members, and exploring future opportunities. Further discussions will take place in the coming months to determine next steps.
We also understand that Cornwall will be discussing amalgamation at their upcoming AGM, and we look forward to hearing your feedback.
In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with the other Boards and Associations through the class action lawsuit, PropTx, and Phase 3 of the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA).
