The Canadian Real Estate Association works to promote a national legislative and regulatory environment that is favourable to REALTORS®, real estate, and property ownership. CREA establishes and maintains contacts with federal cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, parliamentary committees and senior bureaucrats both directly and through its Political Action Committee (PAC). Representatives of the Association also prepare submissions, or appear before Commons and Senate Committees when issues that impact REALTORS®, housing, or property rights are being discussed and debated. CREA also makes an annual pre-budget submission with recommendations for government fiscal policy that encourage responsible economic growth.

Issues that have been addressed in recent years have included the Home Buyers’ Plan, raising RRSP contribution limits, the Retirement Income Home Ownership Plan (RIHOP), the Species at Risk Act (SARA), and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act.

Individual REALTORS® have an important role in the national association’s political efforts through membership in the CREA Political Action Committee (PAC).

The PAC Committee includes the President and Executive Officer of all real estate Boards and Associations, current members of the CREA Board of Directors, and one or more “PAC Reps” appointed by each. This group is also known as the “PAC Network” because of its national infrastructure based on local representation. That “PAC Network” relies on two way communications; PAC reps work hard at the local level to make sure that CREA is aware of important national issues, and to make sure MPs are aware through local representation of what the major national issues are for the real estate industry.

It’s the CREA Federal Affairs Committee that provides leadership and direction for the PAC Network. The network is also responsible for maintaining a distinct federal presence for CREA issues in their Board or Association. PAC reps also have the mandate to maintain an open and active channel of grass roots communications between CREA and Members of Parliament in their riding. The PAC reps also make sure they’re fully briefed on those key issues so that a meeting with an MP is effective in promoting the industry’s position. PAC reps let CREA know what MPs are doing, and where they stand on key issues.

The major focus for participation in federal affairs is PAC Days, held annually in Ottawa so that REALTORS® can take their political message and issues to MP offices on parliament hill. These meetings on parliament hill help strengthen the relationship between MPs and the real estate industry, and provide a unique opportunity to discuss key national issue that can affect REALTORS®.