Ontario Real Estate Association Welcomes Ontario’s Real Estate Movers and Shakers to Toronto at Annual Political Affairs Conference

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) kicks off its 2013 Political Affairs Conference (PAC) today at Toronto’s Courtyard Marriott Hotel. The three day event, featuring prominent politicians, journalists and commentators offers Ontario REALTORS® a unique opportunity to connect with their MPPs, enhance their understanding of provincial issues, exchange ideas and create dialogue on matters that affect the real estate industry.

“OREA makes every effort to influence change at Queen’s Park in areas that directly affect REALTORS® and the real estate industry,” said Phil Dorner, president of OREA. “Having strong relationships helps make that happen. PAC is one of the many avenues that OREA pursues in order to strengthen relations between members and the Government of Ontario.”

Amidst several lobbying efforts undertaken this year, OREA’s Government Relations Committee continues to focus on the following:

• Municipal Land Transfer TAX (MLTT) – preventing the spread of a municipal land transfer tax across Ontario;
• Marijuana Grow Operation Registry – establishing a province-wide marijuana grow operation registry that will help REALTORS® better inform their clients on a property’s history;
• Personal Real Estate Corporations – allowing real estate salespeople to incorporate;
• Mandatory Home Energy Audits – discouraging the government from enacting mandatory home energy audits of old and new housing stock at the time of sale

 For more information on OREA’s lobby issues, visit the Government Relations section of www.orea.com.

2013 PAC Speakers and Panellists

Every year OREA invites high profile speakers to PAC to share their valuable experience and insights with its members. Included on this year’s list are Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Tim Hudak; Leader of the New Democratic Party of Ontario, Andrea Horwath; and, the Minister of Consumer Services, the Honourable Tracy MacCharles. Glenda Brindle, Chair of the Real Estate Council of Ontario’s (RECO) Board of Directors and Joe Richer, RECO Registrar will also be presenting an update.

Returning panellists include political pundits Ezra Levant and Stephen LeDrew as well as John Wright, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the Canadian Public Affairs Division of Ipsos Reid.

A media panel will also be present to offer insights on Ontario’s political climate. Award-winning broadcast journalist, Robert Fisher will be moderating the panel consisting of Susanna Kelly, Editor-in-Chief for Ontarionewswatch.com; Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief for the Toronto Star; and, Christina Blizzard, Queen’s Park Columnist for QMI.

Former Ontario Premier, the Honourable David Peterson, will offer closing remarks on the final day of the conference. Mr. Peterson has a long and distinguished career in public service and he continues to be a key player in provincial government.