As we approach 2026, Ontario’s real estate professionals are at a critical juncture, one that calls for more open dialogue, greater transparency, and stronger accountability within our real estate institutions. While the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), and the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) each serve essential roles in supporting, regulating, and advocating for real estate professionals, the evolving market landscape and shifting member expectations call for a renewed focus on communication and disclosure.
Understanding the Roles
Each institution plays a distinct and important part in the framework of Ontario real estate:
- TRREB is the largest real estate board in Canada, providing MLS® services, data, advocacy, and tools that allow members to operate professionally and effectively.
- OREA offers professional development, lobbying, and provincial-level advocacy on behalf of REALTORS® and the real estate profession.
- RECO is the provincial regulator, focused on consumer protection and ensuring all registrants comply with the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA).
These organizations have played a vital role in shaping Ontario’s trustworthy and efficient real estate environment. However, as we move into a more transparent and digitally connected era, it’s time to examine how they can better serve their most important stakeholders, their members.
A Call for More Disclosure in 2026
2026 presents an opportunity for these institutions to adopt clearer, more consistent disclosure practices. This isn’t a critique, it’s a constructive call to evolve with the times. In a business built on relationships, trust, and access to timely information, our member organizations must lead by example.
Here are a few areas where improvement can bring tangible benefits:
- Governance Transparency: Board decisions, policy shifts, and organizational priorities should be more accessible and clearly communicated to members.
- Financial Disclosure: Greater clarity on how member dues are allocated, especially on large boards and in associations, is key to building long-term trust.
- Member Engagement: More open forums, Q&A sessions, and digital feedback loops would ensure that the voices of members are not only heard but also acted upon.
- Clearer Lines Between Advocacy and Regulation: In a climate of increasing scrutiny, it’s vital to maintain clearly defined roles between advocacy bodies like OREA and regulators like RECO.
Positivity With Purpose
This is not about tearing down the institutions we rely on, it’s about strengthening them through modern governance and better communication. Ontario REALTORS® are highly educated, engaged professionals who deserve transparency from the organizations that represent and regulate them. In turn, that transparency will foster a more empowered, informed, and united membership.
The Time Is Now
As market conditions shift, as technology reshapes client expectations, and as our profession evolves, so too must the institutions that guide us. The call for transparency isn’t a passing trend, it’s a foundation for the future.
2026 can be a pivotal year for organized real estate in Ontario. Let’s make it one where transparency, collaboration, and progress lead the way.
Richard Silver
Silver Burtnick and Associates
Torontoism
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