How a Legacy of Political Advocacy Began: The Story of CREA PAC Days

For 40 years, REALTORS® from across Canada have gathered in Ottawa with a single purpose: to ensure that the dream of homeownership remains within reach for Canadians, and to help build a stronger, more prosperous country. 

This is the story of the Canadian Real Estate Association’s (CREA) Political Action Committee (PAC) Days, an exercise in grassroots democracy and a testament to the enduring power of advocacy.

More than a conference, CREA PAC Days is a living example of Canadian democracy in action. REALTORS® meet their Members of Parliament not as paid lobbyists, but as constituents, neighbours, and trusted local professionals. They bring with them real stories of families struggling to buy their first home, seniors hoping to downsize with dignity, and communities striving to build more housing to welcome the next generation. 

What began as a grassroots idea in 1985 has grown into an annual legacy event with staying power. Here’s a look back at how a grassroots movement turned into a 40-year CREA tradition. 

CREA’s beginnings, shaping the advocacy future

The story of PAC Days begins well before the first REALTOR® stepped through the doors of the Château Laurier. 

CREA’s advocacy roots trace back to the Second World War, when real estate leaders feared that temporary wartime measures such as rent control and restrictions on property ownership might become permanent fixtures in the post-war era. 

From its earliest days, the Canadian Association of Real Estate Boards (later CREA) understood that to protect property rights and expand opportunity, REALTORS® would have to be politically engaged. 

REALTORS® unite in coordinated advocacy 

This work included significant advocacy through the 1980s and 1990s to try and get private property rights enshrined in the Canadian Constitution.  

In the fall of 1981, then Finance Minister Allan MacEachen tabled a budget that quickly became notorious among Canadian business groups and taxpayers, sparking backlash across the country. Interest rates were hovering at historic highs — mortgage rates pushing 20% — and yet the government proposed new restrictions on the deductibility of interest expenses on investment loans. 

For REALTORS®, who were already concerned about affordability and the fragile state of Canada’s housing market, this budget was a red flag. CREA described the measures as “destructive policies” that would hurt investment, undermine confidence, and make it harder for Canadians to buy and sell property. 

Influence from industry peers sparks an idea

At the same time, CREA was watching developments south of the border. 

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) had pioneered large-scale grassroots advocacy through its Mid-Year Conference in Washington, D.C., where thousands of REALTORS® travelled annually to meet their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill. 

The model was simple but effective: train REALTORS® on key issues, then send them into face-to-face meetings armed with facts, local stories, and a strong collective message. CREA leaders saw how effective this approach was and began to envision a Canadian version. 

The model was simple but effective: train REALTORS® on key issues, then send them into face-to-face meetings armed with facts, local stories, and a strong collective message.” 

The real estate industry did not stand alone. CREA joined with a coalition of other national associations to press for change. What set REALTORS® apart, however, was their ability to translate fiscal policy into everyday impacts. 

Through meetings with government, REALTORS® could contextualize what these measures would mean for buyers trying to qualify for mortgages, for small investors trying to finance rental housing, and for communities already struggling with affordability. CREA mobilized both through direct representation in Ottawa and through its emerging grassroots network of boards and associations, ensuring MPs were hearing the same message in their ridings that finance officials were hearing in Ottawa. 

Success at home drives the push for permanence

The campaign succeeded. 

In June 1982, less than a year after the budget was tabled, the government retreated. A remedial budget was introduced that rescinded the most damaging measures, restoring the deductibility of investment loan interest. In addition, the 1982 budget introduced a grant for new and first-time home buyers, something CREA supported.  

That same year, CREA formally created its Government Relations Committee (later becoming the Federal Affairs Committee), establishing a permanent structure for advocacy at the national level. In 1984, CREA published The Deficit Albatross, a widely cited research paper that offered concrete proposals for fiscal discipline. It signaled to Parliamentarians that REALTORS® were serious policy contributors, not just industry advocates. 

CREA was also undergoing a transformation. In 1986, CREA relocated its headquarters from 99 Duncan Mill Road in Toronto to Ottawa, a move that brought staff closer to Parliament Hill and underscored the importance of building long-term relationships with federal decision-makers. This physical presence in the nation's capital symbolized CREA’s new commitment to advocacy and gave added weight to the idea of bringing members directly into the political process. 

This was the beginning of a tradition that would grow into one of the most respected grassroots advocacy events. 

1985: The first ever PAC Days 

In the spring of 1985, about 50 REALTORS® from across the country gathered at the historic Château Laurier in Ottawa to meet with 60–70 Members of Parliament. They received training, participated in policy briefings, and then walked the halls of Parliament to deliver CREA’s message on important public policy issues. 

This was the beginning of a tradition that would grow into one of the most respected grassroots advocacy events in Canada – and the moment CREA PAC Days truly began. 

Looking Back: 40 Years of Success

After four decades of advocacy, REALTORS® and CREA have certainly made a positive impact on housing in Canada. Some of our proudest advocacy achievements include: 

• 1987 – federal property sales through REALTORS® and MLS®
• 1992 – the creation of the Home Buyers’ Plan, which has been used by more than three million families
• 1995 – improved mortgage disclosure
• 2009 – a first-time home buyers tax credit
• 2000-2012 – reduced anti-money laundering red-tape
• 2019 – a first-time home buy incentive
• 2024 – the launch of the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund
• 2025 – the recent launch of Build Canada Homes

As CREA marks the 40th anniversary of PAC Days in 2025, we celebrate not only the policy wins and the powerful moments on Parliament Hill, but the thousands of volunteer REALTORS® and board and association staff who have carried this tradition forward. 

Their dedication is proof that the REALTOR® voice matters and that together, we can shape a better Canada.